April 19th /63 Creek
Camp Bell Va Near Potomac
Dear Wife & Child
I am so sure am I of a letter on
this day or evening that I take this
morning to commence writing a letter
to answer it fearing that I should
not have time to write a whole letter
at a time for such is a Soldiers
life that he does not know what the
next day or the next hour last Sat=
=urday I got disapointed but Sunday
evening I recieved one from you stat=
=ing you were well which was good
news from that source it rejoices me
to hear that my friends are well &
enjoying good health my health is
the very best now and I feel very
thankful for it to I hope that I may
enjoy as good health this Summer
as I now enjoy for when I feel well I
enjoy good seens let what will come
for in God is my trust and as long as
I put my trust in him I find a sure
help in every time of need he never
has forsaken me in the hour of trouble
for when the Battle has been raging in
its hotes fury I have found consilation
in calling upon his name and I hope
I may ever be found at the feet of the
meek and lowly Jesus perhaps
you may think this rather dry but what
a persons thoughts are mostly on that
he will write about when my thoughts
are on Heaven I am contented with
[Page 2]
my lot. feeling that our Army will
come off victorious although we may
see many hardships before the thing
is closed as for my coming home I
have still faith to believe I shall get
home after a little we have not recie=
=ved our pay but Soon are in hopes of
getting it for we have over Seventy
dollars coming to us their is use of
my think of coming home till I get
my pay from Uncle Sam and I
fear that will not be till Some time
next month I am as good as out of
money with the expectation of
getting our pay the last of last month
or the first of this under those consi=
=durations I have comodated Steve &
John to considerable money especialy
while Steve was sick the company
owes me considerable but I cannot
get any of it till after they receive
their pay Steve Says he could get money
by sending for it but he does not Seam
to send for he knows I am short of
money and he thinks as long as I have
he must have and I am willing to let
him have as long as I have John I do
nt expect to get any from at the pres=
=ent for I guess he has hard work to
meet with debts at home I hope he may
get out of debt this year if nothing turns
up . I guess he never would if he had
staid at home for I guess his liquor took
[Page 3]
all of his loose change to keep strait
but enough of this for what is his
buisness is not mine therefore I have
no right to judge for him perhapse
he knows best about his matters I think
he will get out of the Service in the
course of two or three months for my part
I cannot say how long I shall Stay in the
Service I cannot Say not I am prety
sure I shall not long if my health
is no better this Summer than last
my health is the best this Spring for
about two weeks although I do no
duty nor have I done for a long time
only I was on guard one day went
on at my own option but that is
all I shall keep out of it just as long
as I think best if they think I am
not fit I am perfectly Satisfied for
I am just lazy enough to lay around
if they are willing when the boys
play ball or any of that Sort I have
no desire to join the sport therefore
I suppose they think I do not feel
able there I am kept off from
drill which I think there is no
good for an old soldier like our
Regt new Regt Should drill I think
we have served our time at that
and hard marching if any Regt
has in the service now I think
we should rest some for my
part I am bound to play my
mine for I can do that if any
[Page 3]
one can for I have been Sick enough
to whiten out so I look on the grunty
order although I feel well enough
when any thing necessary to be done I
am willing to share my lot with
them I do not wish to be a slik and
am not for I often do duty when I
am pronounced sick by the Doctors
but drilling I have for I am sure I
learn nothing new we drill the
old thing over and over therefore
it makes it dull work for me
and I guess for all the rest John’s
health is the very best Wilson
hurt his ankle yesterday so he
is limping around to day I guess
he will get well in a few days
if he does not hurt it again he
grunted very hard for a while
you would thought he was all
broke a pieces to heard him com=
=plain for he has got Terry enough
to grunt if any thing ails him
he is as fat as a hog and can eat
his dayly allowance as well as the
best Steve looks very good his sick=
=ness did not take off his flesh Phil=
=and I do not see every day as for
this Brother I do not know whether
he is dead or live whether he has
wrote you a letter or not I cannot say
for I never have asked him I toled him
a good while ago that you would be hapy
to recieve a letter him and he said he would write
[Page 4]
Well sure enough Saturday Eve
came and So did a letter which
came very exceptable and this bei=
=ng Sunday morning I thought I would
answer it I Saw Philan this morning
and he says his Brother was getting
better I am glad to hear it for Philand
felt very bad about it till he heard
he was on the mend his Sister
has had the Dyptherea also but
they Seem to be on the mend both
of them I guess Philan has it midling
easy in the company he belongs
Steve tryes to grunt considerable
of the time but he looks fat as
usual so I will not judge how he
feels for perhapse he does feel rath=
=er mean and if such is the case
he should be pited Wilson he is a
grunting with a lame leg but they
have no pity for him much beca=
=use he played off so long in the
Summer Staying away as long as
he did the Colonel is very much
down on more than I think there is
any need off I am willing to pity
him for he is lame I know for
his Ankle is Swolen and that mid=
=ling bad but such is the Antip=
=hathy against unnecessarly playing
off that they will get down on a
person for it and they will forget
it of him but enough of this for I
have been sick considerable but still
[Page 5]
I have stayed with the company
Sharing its hardships and privations
and as for that I am willing to share as
long as I can just one foot before the
other I feel a satisfaction in trying to
do any duty both as a soldier to my cou=
=ntry and my God and may I ever hold
as dear a consience as I have at the
present time towards my country
and I hope I may ever be found
doing my masters will or my duty to him
and my fellow man There is mee=
=ting in the Regt to day but still I do
not feel like going although I guess
he is a good man but not much of
preacher I can enjoy myself just as
well I believe in reading my Testament
as to go and hear him although
I do not know as I am right if
not I hope I may be directed aright I
must think of closing for I have
made out a large letter but before
I close I would Say if you could send
me a little money say two dollars
I would be very glad for I am almost
and shall be wholy before any money
can get to me we will not recieve
our pay till the last of next month
if before June I think it is mean to
keep us out of our pay as long if
we do not have it we shall not
spend it but enough of this write
often This from your Husband
and best friend L A. Granger