The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-06-08
Bolivar. Va. October Is, 1862.


you. suppose you want to know what
guard, do picket duty, cut trees. We
SEND five or six hundred men out of this
brigade every day to cut trees. We
were out on brigade drill yesterday and
we made quite a show. | don't know
how long We shall stay here but in my
opinion we are here to guard and hold
Harper's Ferry. This is an important
place. We must have a large force
around here, so l don't think we shall
have to move right away. All we lack
to be comfortable is our knapsacks and
clothes; we expect them soon. The boys
say they can join the regular army and
| have one hundred dollars and thirty days
furlough-some of them say they are
gong to join. guess they think more
of the furough than the money. shall
stick to the 10Th Maine General Cor
man is a fine old fellow. The chaplain
of our regiment arrived from Belfast
last Friday; he preached good sermon
Sunday. His name is Palmer and he is the
shipbuilder's son. Oh | saw something
this morning that made me think of
home. | was off after water and went
into a house and stood by the kitchen
stove and almost imagined was stand
ing by the stove at home, it looked so
much like it. 1t is the first time | have
been into house since left Belfast. |
must close, the bugie sounds. | am on
water guard and so they excuse me from
| drill. The paper states that we are to
move to Point of Rocks. That is not
far, We came past there on our way
here. Tell father | am sorry business is
50 dull but there are better times com
| ing; this can't last always. | wish you
and father and Eta would have some
small pictures taken and send to me. If
| Atwood comes home, have his, too.
Always the same,
K. T. N.
P. S. Tell father to bring his pota-
toes out here and sell them for one cent
apie ce- that is what they go for,
Bolivar, Va, Oct 26, 1862.
Dear Father: l suppose you will be
anxious to hear from me, | have not
written for some time. Not much news
to write, good or bad. | am well and
hearty; the only sick spell l have had
was the other day out on picket. had
bad cold caused by lying cold nights. |
was one of the reserves last night and
nothing to dos rolled up in my blanket,
crawied into a good nest of straw the
boys brought from an old farm house,
and slept warm and nice till morning and
came out bright as a button. Andrew
Maker is sick in the hospital, but is get
ting better. More than half the regi-
ment have been sick, and l begin to
think l am quite tough. What would
you have thought of me when at home
if had taken bed quilt and gone off
out of doors to sleep. | am sorry to say
that some of our men show signs of
inconsistencies only few-some want
to join the regular army, but father
shall stick to the 10Th through thick and
thin. | had letter from mother and
Atwood last night; he said he hoped we
should meet out here. l do too, but don't
expect to see him this fall unless We go
INTO winter quarters near Washington.
When we go into winter quarters | shall
want you to send me some clothes; two
good shirts and vest and some handker-
chiefs. 1t W ould cost fortune to get them
here. Before we got our knapsacks Gard
ner was down with rheumatism ard let
him have my underclothes, and one
morning | could hardly get up | was so
stiff with cold. I started for the suffers
and got some little mean underclothes.
We have got our clothes now and are
quite comfortable. 1t rains as hard as
1t can pour. 1t has been very fine wealth
er so far, but the dry spell has broken |
guess, and | am afraid We shall have
more men on our sick list; Sergeant
Scott has just gone to the hospital. |
Drum beats roll call. Good night Give
my love to all the folks.
IL is dark. R. T. n.