Camp near Harrisons Landing V^a
July 28^th 1862
H Quarters Army Potomac
C^o F 20^th Ind Vols
Frend
Emmie
I got Your Kind letter this Evening
But did not get the one from You and Aunt I got only
a few I Started one to Grandmother to day and giv
you all particular fits for not Writing often Well You
dont know how a fellow feels way down in Dixie if he dont
get Some news from Home a mans life is not worth
any thing only for the present moment & a fellow
learns to want to & has to Enjoy time as it passes looking
not past nor future I am still well with the Exception
of an awful Sore Mouth the Dr^s. Say Caused by living
on Salt Meat & crackers So long Well it wil get well
now for we get fresh Vegtables Beef & Soft Bread Thank
God. But My Mouth is to sore to Enjoy it yet I get
some wash from the Sugeon to day tried it once took it
back & told him he might go to ---- with that stuff
I would not use it if my head came off He modified it
a little But it is sore Yet the Chaplane was at the
Despensay when I went back he Said he could Sympathaie
with me for his mouth was as bad as mine it is not any
ways dangerous but very disagreeable on the account of grub
& that is what I live by I go on picket tomorrow
[page 2]
& thought I would write to night for by the time I
get in I wil forget it. I wil not feel like writing for a day
for two any how There is not the Excitement in going on picket
here that there was at Fare Oaks there one knew that the
enemy was not a mile off at any time & at any time
he might look for a shot almost evry time a Regt was on
Picket it lost Some men. But here they are Several
Miles off and dont Bother the Pickets any at least has not
for Some time and after a Soldier dont get Shot at for
two days on any one post he thinks there is no danger there
& that insures Watchfulness but I was Speaking of personal
danger. Bridget can Show You her letter if She wants to
it is pretty tough Em But hers has the Same & it did me more
than a peck of good. JLC & <Kut?> is all Right But we
have not herd from I V Yund I dont think he is Killed [Cpl. Isaac V. Yund, Co. F]
Boys Saw him hit. In fact it cant be held certain whether
a fellow is Killed or Not in Battles like those we fought
Several of Our Boys was Reported Killed on the 25^th that was
not touched but Seperated in the Charge & lost in the woods
One was Said to Shot in the temple & fell dead but he is
Safe I got in to another Regt on the Same day & some
of the boys Said I was laying dead by a tree that they saw me
as they came out So I think the chances for I V Y to be
alive is at least 10 to his being Killed I must close this leter
love to Uncle Aunt & all the family. Tell Gmother to be
Easy about me & all the Rest of you the same I ant frightend yet
Your Friend to Em Harvy
[cross written vertically on left side of page 2]
My letter like to have shown any <gust?> as I<???>
<???> <???> <Mau?> and dont as the <Headsay?>