14th Vermont Infantry

Item LTR-10659

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 6 pages, written in period ink.


Camp Near Fairfax Court House, Virginia
January 9th 1863

Cousin Caroline,

Agreeable to your request, I seat myself in my tent to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you all enjoying the same blessing. For health is to be prized above anything else here. I should have written you before. But I have been so busy that I could hardly get time. When I received your letter, we were encamped two miles west of Alexandria at Camp Vermont. Since then, we have been out to Wolf Run Shoal on the Occoquan River, where we staid but 10 days were ordered back to Camp Vermont again. We stayed there two weeks and were order to Fairfax Court House where we are now encamped a distance of 17 miles from Camp Vermont, which we marched in one day carrying our knapsacks. We arrived there at 4 p.m. and built a fire and boiled m coffee, ate my supper, which was composed of raw pork, hard tack (Army bread) and coffee and laid ourselves down to sleep in the open air and never slept better in my life.

Fairfax Court House is a small village and from appearances was a thriving place before the war broke out. But now, everything is desolate and forsaken by most of the inhabitants. The Court House is used for a brigade depot and the hotel is used for a hospital and most of the dwellings that are left standing are occupied by our men. We have been out to Centreville on picket and staid a week. Here is another place almost like Fairfax Court House, they burnt and town down a great many of them, and what are left are most of them occupied by our troops. The Church was once a nice building but is most all tore to pieces. Everything in Virginia, as far as I have been shown, the effects of the Rebellion. Houses burnt or town down, timber cut and used by the Army, fences and fruit trees all gone, land cut up by encampments and earthworks and forts built in almost every direction. I have not seen any of the Rebels yet. Only one or two who was brought to Fairfax as prisoners. We expected a brush with them the 27th as the Rebel General Stewart was discovered in the vicinity with between 2 and 3,000 Cavalry. But General Stoughton being apprised of his coming in time to order his men and artillery and some cavalry from Centreville and the 1st Vermont Cavalry 400 also came but they were frightened away. So, we did not get sight of them. Two companies of the 12th Vermont were sent out one mile as pickets and a few of the rebels approached and were fired upon, killing one horse and wounding several men. But killing none as we could learn. Our artillery fired a few shots, but they did not return the fire. They then moved off toward Chantilly and I have not heard from them since.

We are having a very fine winter here. No snow more than a frost nor rain. The weather very warm and pleasant. I never was so healthy in my life as at present. Nor never enjoyed myself any better. There are a great many privations to endure tis true, but one can content himself here if he makes up his mind to do so. We have had some long marches but have suffered nothing yet compared with our old troops. We are very comfortably situated here. We have plenty of good water and wood close by. I tent with Sergeant Henry, only two of us together. We have got our tent stocked and a fireplace in it. And we are as comfortable as you please. We have aplenty to eat and have had most of the time since we have been in Virginia. We do some tall cooking, you had best to believe. I received a letter from Abby on New Year’s. She said you was at home.

The five regiments, nine-month men, are one Brigade under General E. H. Stoughton. We are Second Brigade, Major General Casey’s Division. We have divine service every Sabbath by our Chaplain W. S. Smart and prayer meetings once a week, if convenient. Tell me if you have heard from Charles. Write soon.

Direct to:
Lorenzo D. Jepson
Company A, 14th Regiment Vermont Volunteers
Washington, DC

P. S. Remember me to Eliza and Selina. I will write them as soon as convenient. One has to write as they can here. Write a few words and perhaps be called away and not write anymore that day. As we have to drill and do guard duty or be detailed with a squad of men for fatigue duty or something else. So, it keeps one busy. But I must close, so goodbye.

From your cousin,

L. D. Jepson

The Pownal boys are all well.