“I must tell you of a little scrape I got into, for you see I cannot keep anything from you”

Camp at Warrington Junction VA

Saturday [should be Friday], March 4, 1864

Dear Clara,

Feeling that it is time I again heard from you, which I have not, I think I will write a few lines to you. My health at present is good and I hope these few lines will find you all enjoying the same blessing. I think I will be on railroad guard today so I thought I would have a letter on the way to you.

You will see by this that we are yet here and I understand the rest of the army has returned to their old camps and everything is quiet again in the Army of the Potomac. I have been looking for a letter quite anxiously now for two days past. I hope to get one tonight. I always think you must be sick or something else if I don’t get a letter when it is time, but always pray for the best.

Dear Clara, I must tell you of a little scrape I got into, for you see I cannot keep anything from you. I was Sergeant of the Guard the other day and a prisoner was brought to the guardhouse and put under my charge, and at night an Order [came] through the drum major (he gave it to me himself). I released him by that Order and the next morning after I was relieved from guard. I was placed under arrest and had to stay in my tent a whole day. But yesterday morning the Col. sent for me to come up to his tent and after giving me a fatherly kind of a reprimand, he told me I was released from arrest. But for the very same offense last winter one Sergt. was reduced. You see I thought the Order came from the Col. but it did not, and even if it did I had no business to let him go unless I got it from his own lips. But it is all right again. I was afraid it might go pretty hard with me, but I guess I have got a good reputation here and this is what cleared me. They do reduce Sergts here in this Regt. for almost nothing, so I think I have got off pretty easy this time. It is the first time since I have been in the Regt. that they have found anything against me and that went a good ways in my favor. The Col. told me he reduced a Sergt. for the same offense last winter.

Oh how I wish I could see you all. I have been dreadful home sick for a week past. I can’t tell what makes it. I hope before this time you have got that money I sent you, for I feel quite anxious about money until I hear from you again.

I will send you some more of them pictures. I don’t know but what I am foolish in sending them, or rather, buying them, but somehow I feel as if I must send you something. I want to hear from that money I sent you before I send you any more, so to see if has gone safe with. I wish you would write and let me know how you have got along for money this winter and if you have enough. If I knew you didn’t have enough or was pinching yourself and little ones I would send you every cent and more too if I could get it. I have sent you a great deal more money than what I expected I could when I came down here. But then I must not forget, you have sent some more back to me.

Dear Clara, I must close for I have just got word that I am on picket or railroad guard for two days. Give my love to all of my folks, also to all enquiring friends. Much joy to Mr. and Mrs. Gulich. God bless and protect you and my little ones. Goodbye until you hear from me again.

Your husband with love,

Sergt. P. L. Dumont