1862 March 5 Camp Union

Camp Union March 5th/62

Dear Father & Mother
Your letter of Feb 24th
was received this afternoon
by the hand of Frank Grimes
Benton & Stewart accompanies him
I was very glad to see John
I have had a real regard for
him ever since I knew him
My health is very good
in fact I was never
better
We are now making
preparations to leave this
place it is probable now
from the state of the
weather that we will
not move until next
week. It has been quite
stormy for some days
and the roads are in a

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very bad condition
It is really sad to see
the long trains of wagons
and mules as they come
draging in through the
mud--the animals in
many cases worn down
to mere skeletons
This night a large train
of wagons are quartered
just behind our house
the ground is drenched with
water and it is now
snowing and it is a hard
night to see the poor horses
tied up to their wagons
unsheltered.

To give you an idea of the
conditions of the roads
it requires four horses to
draw three barrel of port
from the river to this place
As soon as the weather is

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fine the remainings
coms of our regiment will
go to Raleigh. And as soon
as the roads permit we
will probably go on from
that place. I should not
wonder if we would
get to see Richmond this
spring I hope so at lest
The 30th Regiment will remain
here. the companies of that
Reg in Raleigh now will
return. Our men are yet
at work on the Fort at
this place and if it were
only mounted with Guns
it would appear quite
formidable
How does Prof Nixon do
does he govern well
Where does Gates live
now. I am surprised to hear
of toms non arrival. I wish

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you would send me
Levi Kerrs adress
Intending to write again
when we arrive at Raleigh
I will close
Yours Truly J. D. Templeton

James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio