“I do not see what made you have such dreams as you tell of, for here I am as well and stout as ever”

Camp at Warrenton Junction VA

Saturday, April 23, 1864

Dear Clara,

I received your letter day before yesterday but have not had time to answer it before. My health at present is good and I hope this may find you all the same at home. I have been examined for the navy and I am afraid I did not pass although I do not know for certain.

We are making preparations here every day for the grand move which may be ordered at any day. I am afraid we are going to live harder this Spring than we ever did before. There is only two wagons to accompany each Regiment. Also an Order has been issued for the Officers to leave their Mess Chests behind and live on the same rations as the Private Soldier does.

One thing will be hard if the order takes effect. As I understand, from the 26^th of this month there is no communications to be held with the Army for 60 days. So if it is true we cannot write to one another, but do not stop until you find out it is so.

Dear Clara, if you live so close to the railroad you will have to keep pretty good watch of the children or I am afraid they will get run over by the cars. If you like it there I am glad of it, but it seems to me as if I would not care to live so close to the railroad. I should think you could not get ay sleep nights for the noise. I have been within a half mile of it all winter and every time the trains goes by they wake me up out of my sleep.

I do not see what made you have such a dream as you tell of, for here I am as well and stout as ever. Perhaps it is good to dream such a dream, for I always take them the opposite from what I dream them. How many times have I dreamed I was home on furlough and here I am yet and I don’t know as I am ever going to get there until my time is out.

I can’t find time to make a picture for Ida just now, but as soon as I can I will. Oh how much I have longed to see that little face and hear them little lips calling my name. Oh, how fond and how much I did love her, but I live in hopes of seeing her yet when this accursed Rebellion is settled.

Well, Clara, if God spares our lives for sixteen months more, I think I will be a free American Citizen again. Oh, how I do long for the time to wear away, but I can’t help it. I think it is wrong to wish my time away but I cannot govern my own feelings in this respect. I suppose Tom is as well as ever.

As I have not much more news to write I will bring my letter to a close. (P.S.) I have just had supper. Perhaps you would like to know what I had. Well, I will tell you. Coffee, bread, and molasses. Quite a dish. Perhaps you would like to of been here and had some of it. Give my regards to the major. My love to father and mother, sisters and brothers. Take good care of yourself and our little ones. Write soon, and may a kind and beneficent Providence guide and protect you.

Yours ever with love,

Sergt. P. L. Dumont

P.S. I sent my Sergeant’s Warrant to father to give to you. It is not worth much to anyone, only it shows the position and hold in the Regt. The other Sergts sent them home to be framed. You can do as you like about this of mine.

Yours ever,

Sergt. P. L. Dumont