Letter to sister

Scope and content:

Written from "Camp near Manassas," Virginia. Letter regards daily life in camp.

Language:

English

Other descriptive data:

Camp near Manassas
Jany 4th 1862

Dear Sister
Your welcome note of the 30th inst reached me today. The bouquet retained its freshness and fragrance‐ and am much oblige to all parties interested in getting it up. Remember me kindly to them, and tell Miss Matilda that I will try and send her one in return, in the spring, especially as she took so much pains to fix it for a Colonel. Tell her the complaint among the Commissioned Officers here is that the smiles are all bestowed on the men in ranks. Well they justly deserve them. I believe I was acting as Brigadier when I last wrote, Col. Hill has returned and I am done playing "Big Indian" but after a week's experience in that capacity I don't think it is as vexatious position as that of little Colonel.

Genl. Elzey came up from Centreville today. He is still complaining with rheumatism. He does my Regiment the compliment to have his body guard detailed from it. He says the Baltimorians & Tennesseeans stole from him. (Geddie Effinger my roommate has just come and give me a scolding about not having a good fire). But I must tell you that I am in my "shanty". We moved in last night. You will see from the enclosed picture that it bears a striking resemblance to the habitations along the line of the rail‐road in Northern Georgia only it is a better building. My kitchen is not quite completed. I eat in my tent this morning with snow on it, this is as near a Valley Forge scene as I have yet experienced. The ground is covered with snow, but it is very slight and the first winter weather we have had yet. My men are nearly all in their huts. And now I must tell you something else in connection with our Winter Quarters. I was at Genl. E. K. Smith's House today (I will tell you why I went there directly) for some time. He told me that Genl. Johnston wanted us to remain at Centreville and it was some time before he could prevail upon him to let us come here, so you see we are among the "favored few". I was at Centreville yesterday. Many Regiments are still in their tents & will probably be all winter.

Subjects:

Soldiers -- Confederate States of America -- Correspondence

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