Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
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One by one the days drag themselves along. Today is Saturday and seven weeks from
today the boys expect to be mustered out of the U. S. service. Some, even,
expect their time is out the 23d of this month. I am afraid they will be
disappointed. Your letter written in CharlestownBoston, Sunday was rec'd last night. I got one from
Laura last night & one tonight saying that she had rec'd a letter from you
saying that you were coming home of Tuesday - So I suppose that you are at home
& shall expect a letter from you tomorrow from home. It makes me think of
home to know that you are there. I hope your health is better than it was &
that you will take care of yourself when you get home. Go about as much as you
can & see all you can. Be in the open air and if
you can get a
chance to ride on horseback some safe horse, do so. Walk if you cannot ride. Be
sure & get a safe horse.
My health continues good. We are still undisturbed here, tho' there are
skirmishes all about us. The Maj. is still at Catlett's & to hear him talk
you would think he commanded the most important post in the army. They get
disturbed almost every night, & last night were under arms twice. Before I
went to sleep last night there was an alarm on our picket line & a gun
fired. Cavalry were seen outside the line. They proved to be a portion of the
1st. N. J. sent here to help guard the R. R. This morning I was aroused at 7-1/2
o'clk by six or eight shots on the picket line. The alarm proved to be from the
same cause as last night. The boys turned out pretty quick this morning. I tell
you about these things because I know you will appreciate just how much they are
worth. It is the same here as at Wolf Run - false alarms. Speaking of Wolf Run -
Col. Randall's whole baggage train was taken night before last
between
Wolf Run & Occoquan - the mules & horses - thirty-two in all - carried
off - the stores taken & the waggons broken. It was probably done by
bushwackers.
You ask where the other Regts. are. the 13th. is still at Occoquan, the 14th. at the Shoals, the 15th. 2-1/2 miles above us, at Bealton, the 16th. at Union Mills. We are stretched out fifty miles. Genl. Stannard makes his headquarters at the Mills, & also Genl. Abercrombie. How long we shall have to stay here I do not know. There is some talk every day about our moving, but we dontfter going near Beverly's Ford I struck off straight across the country thro' field & woods to a Mrs. Bogues, a widow lady, sister of Mr. Bowen, where there was an ice house filled. We got a drink of ice water & of iced currant wine & returned. This P. M. I have been reading David Copperfield.
Chas. Dickey & McArthur have at length returned from Alexa. Benton is getting better, has some trouble with his ear or he would be in camp. Mr. Hagar has been sick but is getting better. The Regt. is generally very well. Nelson sends love. Remember to all friends. Love to Laura & Mac. You had better begin to take the Daily Journal regularly. Tell everybody how much I think of Burnie, & how good a horse he is. He is much better. I ride him every day. Write often. Much love to my dear & sweet wife.
From your affectionate husbandRoswell Farnham.