Camp Union Sept 5th/61
Dear Daughter
i recivied your letter and was glad to
hear from you and your sisters i am well at
present am i hope this will find you all the
same we are still encamped at the same
place but expect to move shortly as we have
recivied orders to pack our things and be ready
to march at a moments Notice i Do not
know where we will go to but i think we
will go either to virginia or to harpers
ferry but that will Depend on Circumstances
the rebels keep things very [?????] and we
can not acirtain there movements as well
as we would like to but me keep a sharp
lookout for them one of our Companay went
about 5 Miles away from Camp one Day last
week and found a Companay of rebels Drilling
a took about 40 prisnors and brought them
to our camp and from there me took them to
washington where they will be well taken care
of it will not be long before we will have
a regular battle over in virginia our pickits
and theres is within mile of each other
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our regiment is very ancious to get in into action
and i think they will soon get grattifind
in there wish you asked in your letter what kind
of things your aunt rachel sent to me i will
tell you she sent Me a loaf of home Made
bread and a lot of Doughnuts and ginger Cake
and some nice Bouglougne sausage and a Jar
of nice preserves two nice hankerchief
and a nice lot of Butons and thread and
a Neidles and pens and ink and letter paper
and envelopes and a lot of other things all
of witch come very handy. she is the only
one who has sent me any thing since i have
been Here but i get plenty to eat and
therefore i Do not want Mutch i want
you to write to me whenever you got a
a Chance and let me know how you all
are you say you are tired of living in the
Country but i think you are better of there
than you would be in the citty try and be
a good girl and stay where you are until
the war is over when if i live and have
good luck you will not have to live out
anymore you ask me what i went to the
war for i had several i had several reason
for going witch it is not worth while to mention
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enough to say i have enterd into it and
i expect to stick to it if i live until
it is ended witch i hope it will be
before long it is not true about Drafting
there has been No men Drafted at all
Nor there wont be i want you to let
me know wether your Mother Draws
the Monney from the Relief Committee
yet for she is entitled to it all the rest are getting
it yet. let me know how adalaide and lizze
are. i will send my likness to you as
soon as i get paid witch will be soon
give my love to your sisters and all
the rest write soon and let me know
how you all are. No More at Present
from your Affectionate
Father
Thomas Lacompte
to Miss Margaret Lacompte
Do not forget to write soon

NB your aunt Rachel wants you to
Come and see her when you Come to
town