Harrison’s Landing
July 19th
1862.
We have been moved from our former
position, as usual,
just after making ourselves a little
comfortable by finding
a spring, cleaning our camping ground
thoroughly, etc,
but I think I shall like our present
camp better than the
old one, when I once get accustomed
to it. The site
is on higher ground, and more airy,
there fore I think
more healthy - Most of our officers and men
are sick, probably going through a
process of acclimati-
sation - I am right on my muscle myself,
with exception of a bad cold, which
you must have
most of the time in this section of the
country, according
to Army Regulations. The Major (Acting) sent
me off a couple of evenings since, to
hunt up and
buy a horse for him - I rode about seven miles
and back through a drenching rain,
and over such roads
-
those I describe in my last were Brussels carpets in
comparison – once, the horse sank
into a hole up to
his shoulders, and to crown all, when
near the end
of his journey, he slid on to his
side with my leg under
him, covering me from head to foot.
I was not hurt in the least, the mud
was so nice
and soft, but how the Colonel roared
when I
galloped into camp at full speed
– He did
not know me till I spoke. You can easily
understand that it was no joking
matter, when I tell
you that I only possess one shirt,
the balance –
which I received when I sent my trunk
to Capt.
Dana – having been stolen by one of
the contraband
washerwomen. You have heard of the man
who lay in bed when his shirt was
washed – I have
been him-
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 5130
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