“I hope the Lord will spare us to meet again on earth”

Camp at Warrenton Junction VA

Friday, April 29, 1864

Dear Clara,

I received your welcome letter last evening and it found me all well as I hope this may find you. I could not answer yours as soon as I got it, for this morning I went on picket and I am just relieved from there at 9 o’clock tonight. So I could not go to bed without writing you, for we are ordered to move at 8 o’clock tomorrow morning. I don’t know as it will do any good to write it, for they say the mail has been stopped, but I hope not.

Burnside is marching on to the front with about 40 thousand men and amongst them is, they say, about 10 thousand negro troops which he is leaving along the road to guard it and they are here relieving the 5^th Corps. The head of his column reached here about 4 o’clock this afternoon and they are encamped all around us tonight. I have not seen any of the Black Soldiers yet so I cannot give you a description of them. They did reach here this afternoon.

The men of Burnside’s Corps looked hard and pretty much worn out. They were covered with dust and they say they have marched from Annapolis Maryland without rest and not much to eat, I reckon, for they were begging hard tack of us.

The Men that was examined for the Navy was expected to leave the Regt this morning but for some reason which I cannot account for they did not go. I was in hopes that I might go but I am afraid I can’t for it seems my papers did not come.

Dear Clara, I am afraid before you hear from me again there will be a hard battle fought with the [Army] of the Potomac, but wherever I may be placed I shall try to do my duty as well as I can.  I hope the Lord will spare us to meet again on earth.  

I have not much more news to write so I will close hoping to hear from you soon again. Take good care of yourself and our little ones. Give my love to all of my folks and may heaven protect us all evermore.

God be ever with us

From your affectionate husband

With love

Sergt P.L. Dumont