Virginia Danville Light Artillery

Item CON-5762

Description

Original Civil War Confederate soldier's letter. 4 pages written in period ink.

April 5th 1864
Camp Taylor Albermarle Co., Va

Dear Friends,

Respectfully I endeavor to embrace a few lines to let you know that I have not forgot you yet. I am well and in fine spirits and hope when this letter reaches you, it will find all of you well. I promised to write to you when I left there but I have neglected it until now. I expected to go to service in a week or two when I came away from there but I did not go in until the last of July. My Brother came home and stayed a few days. Then I came with him and joined the same company that he belongs to. I like service very well. I am willing to do my share for the Confederate States and hope that all others are so minded.

We have some rainy weather this spring. It commenced raining yesterday morning and it is still raining yet. It is very muddy on this side of the ridge. The ground is very loose when it rains. The water does not run off. It sinks in the ground.

General Grant has command over the Army of the Potomac. It is reported that he has 250 thousand men to fight us. He says that he has never been whipped. He has never tried old Robert Lee yet. Lee will fool him one of these days. Whenever the weather gets warmer and dries the roads enough for marching there will be some hard fighting and I hope the victories will be given to our side. We have good winter quarters here. We came here on Christmas day and remain here yet but I suppose that we will not stay here long anymore. The summer campaign will soon commence. We build a church here and have preaching every Sunday and prayer meeting every other night. Our chaplain is Presbyterian. He is a able speaker.

I was at home about three weeks ago. I had a furlough. It was only a 7 day’s furlough. I could not stay but 5 days. I could not get around to see all my relations. I expected to get a fifteen day’s furlough but they have quit giving furloughs unless a man gets a recruit to come in service. If he brings a new recruit he can get a thirty day’s furlough. Several of our boys got recruits.
Miss Hester, do you recollect when I and you planted a rose bush in the yard? I gave it a name and told you that it would grow. I wish you would write to me it it grew or not.

I will tell you what kind of fare we get here in the army. We have been drawing corn meal for more than one month. We get one pint of meal and a quarter of a pound of bacon for one day’s rations. Sometimes we draw coffee, sugar, rice, lard and molasses. Though it is but little of each sort, we get a great quantity of provisions from home.

Some people think that this war will soon be over, but I do not know what makes them think so. I do not think that fighting will end it. It will have to be ended by some other means. As I have nothing more particular to write I will bring my letter to a [close] by saying excuse me for my bad writing. Write soon and five me all the news. No more at present.

Yours Respectfully,
Moses Mills

Direct Moses Mill
Rice’s Battery
Maj. McIntosh’s Battalion
A.P. Hill’s Corps