Camp at Warrington Junction Va

Thursday Jan 28th 1864

Got her letter and feels so bad she was upset about him drinking whiskey that he writes a full legal-size page of apologies and promises for it never to happen again, excerpted here. “But I cant blame you for I suppose you have seen Enough of the effects of Lichor in you life…Oh Clara I have sworn never to become a Drunkard & I mean to keep my Promise. I have had temptation upon temptation but it has had no effect upon me. Sometimes I Think I have incurred the displeasure of the Officers by not Partaking of what they termed a Sociable glass. … I always Refuse & they hardly know what to make of it. You tell me to look at them little faces & try to be good for their Sakes. Oh Clara you Don’t know how Bad these Remarks made me feel Coming from you who I have loved so much. But I feel they are just & Right. It has been my Chief Object to try & be good & do as you would have me. But it was almost as much of an acident [sic] my being so as anything else.” He just did it to keep from freezing and maybe it’s not as bad as she thinks.

He is on Guard and it is 10:30 at night but he has left a Corporal in charge and come in to his shanty to write so the letter will go out in the morning. “About 4 o’clock this afternoon intimation that the gurrillaas [sic] would attack us to night. The Regt was all turned out imeadiately [sic] & commenced to Erect Obstructions about the Camp &vnow we are awaiting them To give them a warm Reception in Case they come. The men have orders to Sleep on their arms with their Catridge [sic] Boxes on But my tent mates are Snoreing [sic] Soundly while I am writeing [sic] this letter. Perhaps they are dreaming of home instead of Being Attacked by Gurrillas. The Moon is Shining Bright & it will be hard work for them to Surprise [sic] us to night. But I do not have much fears of their Coming. Henry Brownell of [Saguoit?] is here on a visit he was very glad to see me & I to see him. He is going home tomorrow night & I will send a Relic of Mine Run by him. It is an old Revolver thrown away by the Rebels at the last Place we went to attach them. I have Scoured it up & put a wooden Cilender [sic] into it the other one being thrown away or lost by the Rebs. I have Carried it all Over in my knapsack because it was a relic of war & was small & Light to carry. What you say about lotty I can hardley credit yet it may be true. If she likes him & is willing to live with him through life I suppose that is all that is required. I hope he will make a good Husband for her. I was going to Say Some thing else But I guess I wont about the other one you know.”

Lengthy closing. “How I long to be home with you and my little ones. But the grim monster of war must appease his appetite before we shall meet again I fear. I also received a letter from Sister Joey together with a likeness of mother. How naturel she does look. I feel Proud of it.” Closing