Letter to Sarah Garibaldi (Poor)

Scope and content:

Letter regards Civil War news and life in camp.

Language:

English

Other descriptive data:

Camp Stone Wall Brigade
April 22, 1864

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

I have no news to tell you at present, we are to pack up everything we have today and be ready to march tomorrow morning. It is said we are going on picket and that we are to camp some where nearer to our picket lines, but none of us knows where we shall go, all we know is that we will abandon our winter quarters tomorrow morning never more, perhaps, to return to this camp.

The weather is most beautiful here now and the roads will soon be in marching order and we look for the Spring campaign close at hands. Meantime our troops have been cheered up by the victories that our armies have lately achieved in North Carolina and in Transmississippi Department. General Banks have been defeated in the Transmississippi Department with the loss of eight thousand men including killed wounded and missing, thirty five pieces of artillery, two hundred wagons. In North Carolina they have been defeated with the loss of twenty six hundred prisoners, one Brigadier General and several pieces of Artillery. General Forrest captured Fort Pillow and out of seven hundred yankees defending it four hundred negroes, and three hundred whites, he only took one hundred prisoners. The balance were all killed including the comandant of the fort. All these little victories are very encouraging to us and could we only whip Grant it would be very encouraging to us and very discouraging to the enemy. I think we will soon have a trial of it, and I am pretty confident that if General Grant comes over the Rapidan River to fight us over here in our breastworks he will get pretty badly whipped.

This here makes the fifth letter that I have written you since I got back from furlough and haven't received but two from you. I have received them things that you sended me by George Gilbert. I think that this year is the last year of the war provide we can whip the enemy next summer. I hope that we will all come home next winter. I am pretty tire of this war by this time but there is no chance for us unless the war stops for we shall all have keep fighting untill the yankees give us up or untill we shall be subjugated.

There is great revival among the churches in this army. There is at least three times as many more converts in this year than there was last spring. Mr. Gibson is one of them and good many others of our company. John Baker of Covington is to be baptised today.

We are to cook four days rations this evening. I wish I could give some of my coffee that I have on hands. I have nearly half pound on hands ahead of my regular ration, but we are too far apart for me to give to you. The meat is the most scarse article we are getting and that is only a quarter of a pound per day scarsely enough. But considering the times we are doing very well, we done even better this winter than we did did last. Last winter we drew [best] on ration or two of coffee, and but very little sugar. This winter we drew coffee and sugar regular. They are making out to give us some clothing every once and a while so that there is not much complaining in camp. I myself am afraid that we'll have heap harder time in the way of rations than we ever had yet before this war closes. As soon as we draw any money I shall send you some by the first opportunity. Please write to me as soon as you can. Give my best respects to Mother, Russia, and to all the enquiring friends and I'll remain your affectionate husband untill death.
John Garibaldi

To Mrs. Sarah Garibalda

Mr. Gibson sends his best respects and he is well. Clarington Gilbert told me to write to you in my letter to tell Russia to write to him.

Subjects:

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

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