1863 January 17 camp near Falmouth

[from the "War Journal" of George Hazen Dana, as compiled by himself from wartime diaries and letters]

In camp near Falmouth.                                                                 Jan’y 17th 1863.
I am sitting in my tent with the logs blazing
away in the open fire place, and am going to
take as much comfort as I can in it tonight,
as it is bitter cold outside, and tomorrow night
no fires will be allowed, in all probability, for
we leave here at 1 o’clock for a movement against
the enemy.         So, while I can keep warm, I shall.
     You say in your last, don’t expose yourself un-
necessarily. ….If I feel any satisfac-
tion in having been honorably mentioned in
Col. Parker’s Roll, it is because it gives Father,
                                                                                        
Mother, and Sister, pleasure.        I shall expose
myself so far as duty demands, probably no farther.
.   .   .   .   I wear my steel vest this time.        Some-
body else wore it in the last fight, and seemed to
think it hardly worth thanking me for.        I shall
do my best, be assured, in the line of my military
duty, to merit your approbation, and will also
‘take care of myself’.  (I suppose you mean avoid
unnecessary exposure), so that, God willing, we shall
meet again well and happy.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5130