Letter to Sarah Garibaldi (Poor)

Scope and content:

Written near Orange Court House, Virginia. Letter regards general news and life in camp.

Language:

English

Other descriptive data:

Camp 27th Va Regiment Near Orange Court House
January 9, 1864

Dear Wife
Yours of the 4 instant came duly at hands last night which afforded great deel of pleasure in hearing that you and the family were all well. This leaves me well at present and hope that when these few lines will come to hands they may find you enjoying the same state of health. Dear I have no news of any importance to tell you at present, only that we are all in pretty comfortable winter quarters and doing nothing but guard, and picket duty. Our ration of meat has been reduced to a quarter of a pound of bacon per day, or three quarters of a pound of beef, but they are giving us lard in place of it. Besides we draw sugar, rice, coffee, and dried fruit pretty often. Our flour rations is eighteen ounces per day yet, and very likely to be so for the winter. Myself and Mr. Gibson have a shanty of our own that we built, and sleep together. He is cooking for the preacher, the doctor, the adjutant, and the Regimental stewart, and they are paying him extra wages, and we get plenty to eat.

I don't want you to send me anything by mail except letters, for it is so uncertain, if you want send me anything send it to me by hands or don't send it at all and I'll try to do without it, rather than to [lose, have]. I am entirely bare footed but I think I'll get shoes today or tomorrow, but as for socks there [none] to be drawn and haven't had a pair on me for two months. The winter is going along pretty well and after while it will be warm enough to go without socks, I hope, but if I had couple pairs now, and one of my comforts, I would be very glad. Whenever you get chance, to send it by hands, I want you to send me my Catholic prayer book, a pair of socks or two provide you can get them, and my comfort.

I wish I could come home on a furlough but I expect it will be way late in the winter or Spring before I'll get one, but my turn will come sometime, and you may look for me at home sometime this winter or next Spring. I would like to know how you all are getting along for something to eat, you all have no chance to make money to buy flour because it is so high, and there is nobody at home, to do any thing for you all so that I am afraid that either you are, or will have to suffer. I can not help you much, because my wages are only seventeen dollars per month. However there is about one hundred dollars coming to me next pay day, which is now due, of which I shall try to send you fifty, next opportunity I'll meet. You must try to get along the best way you can, for I cannot help you much and I'll come home as soon as I can.

Next Spring my term of service of three years will be over, but I expect that we will, all, have to stay in, for during the war, and there will be no men discharged from the service at all, except them unfit for duty, but if they, next Spring, give us chance to reinlist and join any command we please, I have concluded to come West. It seems to me that the war is going to be a long one.

The weather is very fine here today, we haven't had but two little snows, it snowed night before last about two inches deept but it is going away very fast. The ground is frost here very deep. You must give my best respects to George [Roore], George Gilbert, Thomas W. Rose, Lee H. B. Terry, to Mother, Sister Russia, to all the neighbors and keep a share for yourself, and I'll remain your affectionate husband untill Death
John Garibaldi

Mr. Gibson sends you his best respects and he is [well]. Mr Arington sends you his best repsects and he is well also, the boys are generally well. There is but very little sickness in the army.
So good by
Mr. Gibson sends you a tract for you read.

Subjects:

Confederate States of America. Army—Virginia Infantry Regiment, 27th
Correspondence

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