William C. Holbrook to Mother
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I received your letter this eve. I was very glad to hear from home once more. I
could'nt imagine why I had not heard before. We are getting along here
splendidly. I am in excellent health I have not seen a sick day since I left
home, most all have been troubled with colds & ect, but I have been exempt
from everything. I feel in fine spirits. Since my last letter we have moved
from
"Camp Advance" to our present position, which is about a mile
east of S[ ]nsville & on the road to
Fairfax Court House, which is about 10 miles south, the first night we arrived
here we slept on our arms & were drawn up in line of battle, expecting an
attack that night for early in the morning, but I hardly think the rebels will
dare attack us in our present position. we are drawn up every morning how-ever
in line of battle half an hour before daybrake & remain so until a half an
hour after, that is the favorite time for makeing an attack
this
morning about three o'clock the "long roll" beat which means to form in line of
battle as soon as possible, or the alarm) & we got out as quick as possible
& stood ready to receive the enemy. after standing three hours we were
dissmissed. the alarm was caused by a lot of Dutchmen on picket
seeing a calf which they fired upon thinking it was the rebels, everything seems
to be moveing on in a most stisfactory manner under McClellen. & as far as
my judgement goes I the course he is takeing is the very best that could possibly be, he seems to be moveing along
slow
& fortifying as he goes along such an immense number of
troops as there is this side of the Potomac I could not begin to estimate there
is communications with all the brigades. We are all very
much pleased with Col Stoughton & our regiment has received many compliments
from Gen. Smith. not only in drill but dicipline & behavior.
Maj. Tyler was not injured bad.
Our living is very good Gen. Crandall & Bill Chapin mess a [ ] us. we have fresh meat, sweet potatoes, hasty pudding slapjacks & ect. & our appetites are tremendous we sleep on the ground with a little straw under us, with plenty of blankets over us, all in all I live better than in the boarding houses in [Bouton] I have'nt time to write more to night. let me hear from home oftner & all about the inaugaration with a great deal of love to all.
Your aff. SonW. C. Holbrook
P.S. I sent $25.00 to Father by [ ]. Sec. Paddock. please inform me when you rec. it.