Letter to Sarah Garibaldi (Poor)

Scope and content:

Letter regards general news and life in camp, including a snowball fight.

Language:

English

Other descriptive data:

Camp Stonewall Brigade
March 24, 1864

Dear Wife
It is a pleasure that I seat myself down this beautiful morning to let you know that I am well and hope that when these few lines will come to hands they may find you enjoying the same blessings.

I wrote you a letter on the tenth of this month for which I haven't yet received any answer. Thomas W. Rose lost his knapsack in coming to the army and everything it contained. He said that of the provost guard stole it from him at Millboro so that he lost everything that you had given him to fetch me.

The snow fell about a foot deep here day before yesterday however the weather is very nice now. There was great snowbowling yesterday. It first commenced between the 27th and 33d Regiment and after about an hour of snow bowling the 4th regiment took our part and reinforced us, and the 2d Regiment reinforced the 33d, in about an hour afterward the fifth Regiment reinforced the 4 and 27th and snowbowled the 2d and 33d out of their camp. Afterward the whole brigade joined together again and attacked Rodes Division. Some of the 4th Brigade Louisianians and some of the 33d Brigade of our Division joined our Brigade. Rodes division turned out and ran our fellows into camp. Brigadier General Doles was commanding Rodes Divison. We had no generals ingaged on our side except some colonels took part in the fun. Some rascal or other nocked General Doles in the head with a rock and cut right smart gash in it. He fell off of his horse but he wasn't out the field more than half an hour when he returned again.

In evening the long roll was beaten in our brigade and Louisiana Brigade and turned out again. Our Brigadier General took the field and commanded our Division. Rodes's Division was waiting on us we went and attacked them and ran them out of their camp, thus ended the 23 of March. It was all nice fun except with Brigadier General Doles some had pick at him and took out of him in that way. I shall cease writing by giving you all my best respects and remain your affectionate husband untill death.
John Garibaldi

Since I came back I received a letter from Mary T. Winebrenner inquiring of me about her husband. I don't know neither her nor her husband and she says the news came from you that I was aquainted with her husband. I wrote to his Captain yesterday about C. Winebrenner and as soon as I get an answer from him I will write to her.

Subjects:

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

Access and use