1861 September 22 Camp Blair Fairfax Station, [Virginia]

My dear Pa;
We were very glad to hear from all of
you yesterday through Dick Johnson, & as there is no preaching this morn=
ing I will occupy a part of my time in writing to you, though I’ve just
written a few days ago, & news is very scarce in camp. We try to let you
hear from us as often as three times a week, but very often it is impos=
sible for us to write even as often as three times a week. Bro. John
has to write to Sister Page so often he can’t write home often. I believe
he writes to Sister Page every day, & quarrels very much sometimes
at not hearing from her, abuses the Post Master at Murrel’s shop for
misplacing his letters, says he knows his wife does write to him often=
er than he hears; he got a letter from Sister Page yesterday, dated the
18th, she was well. We were on picket at Burke’s station, four miles
below here, Friday night & yesterday; we had a very nice time, took
supper, breakfast, & dinner at Mr. Marshal’s, a very nice place, a we enjoy=
the eating very much of course – I had to wait at supper, as there
was not room for all of us, & when I ate I had a nice lady to wait
upon me – you just ought to have seen me eat battercakes, a plate
full was placed right by me, & you know I did eat. I left one in
the plate for politeness. It made me think of home very much
to eat in at a nice table in a house; the battercakes reminded me
as much of home as anything else; I thought of Sister, how she
used to talk to me about eating so many, & tell Rich not to
hand me anymore, for I would certainly eat as long as he would
bring them in. I had almost forgotten how to eat like white folks,
found my self several times eating with my hands. I took a long
walk ing the country with some of the boys, to a very nice house where
we got as much watermelon & mus[k]melon as we could eat, the

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first I’ve had this season; I also found two very sweet little children,
one baby. We were relieved yesterday evening; it commenced raining
hard soon after we started home & rained all the evening, we got very
wet, & but for that part of it, the whole trip would have been a very
pleasant one…..It has been a very qu^‘i’et morning, no preaching
or anything of the sort. Bro. John had an appointment, & went to the
church to preach, but found it occupied by a Co. of Stewart’s cavalry
& some sick men & it was too damp to preach out doors, so there
was no preaching at all. We had inspection of arms this morn-
ing, will have dress parade this evening. We have not heard anythin^‘g’
from Munson’s lately; - the Tenesee Regt. started down there early
this morning – would not be surprised if we relieved them,
as we did before – if we do have to relieve the Tenesseans, I sup=
pose we will go in about four days - .. Bick Johnson is trying
to get Tip home, but I don’t think he will succeed. Tip is not
sick much. Ira Kennon is right much complaining, is
better to day – Jimmie Pettus is good deal better – Henry’s boil
is get[t]ing nearly well – Jarman [Pvt. James Jarmin]Gooch is going home in
a few days, we will write by him. I must now bring my
letter to a close, so as to have it mailed in time to go tomorrow.
Our best love to all at home, all of our friends & accept a large
share for yr self. We are very well – write soon to us.
yr devoted & most
aff son
P. S. P. E. Jones
Bro. John wrote ^‘this morning’ to Edward Joyner, who his [is] in the
war department, to attend to his business; he thinks he will
get [-] the appointment in a week or two.
Edloe.

MSS 13407