Camp at Union Mills Va. April 7th 1863My Dear Sister

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I thought when I commenced writing this morning that I would only write to mother to day, but concluded finally to write to you this evening. After I finished mothers letter Capt myself & half a dozen others went out to look at Manassas Junction again; you need’nt be afraid of my being taken prisoner by going a little outside the picket lines. There is no danger. The fact is you at home dont understand how things are situated; what is safe, & what is not safe From the top of the hill, looking in the direction of Manassas

we can look over quite an extent of country, but can never see any signs of life, man or beast. There are a number of houses in sight but probarbly deserted. The whole country about here is spoted with earth forts, rifle pits & breast works. The marks of this war will last a very long time.

I think you must be getting dull, or you would have seen at once that the matter I refered to in regard to Wallace & I, which was to be acomplished before next Apr. was that we had made up our minds to get married after we get home before that time; but its just as well you did’nt understand it, for after taking

another thought on the subject and seeing how things were situated (both being destitute at the present time, of even a starting point) we have almost backed out of the agreement & concluded to go to Mexico, or some other like promising country, and organize a band of bandits & live in that way hereafter. As you know we cannot for a moment, entertain the idea of going to work again as we used to, from morning till night. This is written in fun, but after all there will be, in many cases, “more truth and poetry about it.” To day has been “fast” day in Camp here, as in Vermont. There has been no drill, and the

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boys have buised themselves in almost every way. They made one think of so many children, in a country village, been playing almost every thing in the shape of plays; from boys of 16, to old men of 60, they have been alike engaged, in Hi Spy, Ball, &c I have been expecting next to hear them playing “ring, ring, a rosy” Soldiers always feel on a holy day (spelt wrong I know by the looks) as children do saturdays when school dont keep.

George told me he had written to have his letters sent to Alexandria; continue to send mine to Washington as before, they are sure then, at Alexandria, if we should move away from this part of the country, uncertain.

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It makes one mad to think Aunt Martha wont have a Dr. for Grandmother its to bad, its a sin, & a shame. I wish Uncle Sylvanus would come & see her. Mother has probarbly written urging him to do so. Give her (Grand- mother, not Aunt M.) my love, which is all I can do for her. I wish I could more. Tell her we both think of her very often, & that we shall go to see her, as soon as we have said, how do you do, to you.

I suppose Sister Jane Sophia, is at our house now. Giver her my love, and ask her to give me her advice (she being an old married woman her advice

might be of some account) as to whether I had better get married & settle down when I get home, or to go deviling about, every where & any where.

You say father has spoke about writing my note for $180. What note? how, when, where, &c. Never mind, I shant worry about what money I have, or may send home. I shall send it, and among you, you can fix it as you please. I know it will be all right if I get round to want it, & if I dont it certainly will, for twill be among you. I expect we shall get four months pay before long; what I dont want I shall send home. I have got to get a number of things; among them a vest. mine is going all at once, like

the “one horse shay”

I think our prospects for getting home before the 23d of July are getting poor, very poor, however its only a little difference in time any way. We know what belongs to us the same as if we came sooner. I’m the last one that need to find fault you know. My health has been, every day since we left Vt, good and is so at the present time. Did I tell you we had made Bennet a Corporal? You, he is a Corp. his ambition may yet be gratified. After all Bennet is a good fellow tho’ probarbly, not one of my best friends. This is a great country for “toads”.

I will write no more to night. My love to all.

Your Aff BrotherJoseph Spafford