9th New Jersey Infantry

Item LTR-121

Description

4 pages in period ink, written by Elias C. Winans.

Camp of the 9th NJV
Getty’s Station VA
April 10, 1864

Dear Sister

I received your very welcomed letter of the 4th on Friday and as I have nothing to do this afternoon, I thought I would write and let you know how we are getting along. It is quite warm and pleasant here now but it was hardly cleared off yet it was clear on Friday but it rained yesterday. We have another clear day today but I think it will rain before morning. We do not have much to do in dull weather. But when it is clear, we have to keep moving. The latest rumor is that our brigade is ordered back to Newborn. But it is only a rumor. You must not be afraid of my enlisting again. If every man in the United States Army was to reenlist, I would not. I intend to finish out my time if possible and then I think I will quit. I am sorry to hear that Pa is unwell, especially at this season of the year when he has so much to do and help must be very scarce. I suppose you could not get my money to use now. I wish you had thought of it before you would have been welcome to it. Since I have commenced writing, I have been out on Dress Parade. We had the band out and they did first rate. The musicians were picked out of the regiment. We have ten pieces, besides, we have a better drum corps than we have had since we left home. It has commenced to rain again and we have the prospect of another rainy day tomorrow. But while it rains, we don’t have to drill. I hope they will get money enough not only to pay them for their trouble but to buy them a good instrument. The old melodeon must be pretty well worn by this time. Ed Crane will find his oat crop rather light this fall. I am thinking I am afraid he will never make a model farmer. He was never cut out for anything else but a tape monkey. But I would not like to have them hear me say so. It appears to be an old maids harvest this season. I am very glad that that mortgage is someone else’s hands besides Dr. Chetwood’s. He is such a skin flint. I never want to have anything to do with a Chetwood. They are too big a set of rascals. Tell Grandpa Crane that I will write to him soon. But don’t tell him yet for I am out of postage stamps and can not write to him until you send me some. I have borrowed four this week which will last me until I can get some. I am sorry to have no money home to pay for them with and I do not know when I will get any. We was paid up to the first of January on the 7th of February. We expect to get paid sometime in May but a paymaster is something like a n****r. They are very uncertain. I am glad to hear that Nancy is getting so healthy. I wrote to her last week, the first letter that I have written in some time. I am afraid she has thought I had forgotten her, but she must not think so. I think a great deal of all my Sisters and love them all alike. Tell Pa that I hardly think I can spare time to come home and help him this summer, but if I do not meet with an accident, I will come home and help him draw of hay this fall. Tom says that he is well at present but don’t know how long he will keep so if this weather lasts. He sends his best respects to all the family, but I will close here. Write soon.
From your affectionate Brother
Elias C Winans
Co K 9th NJV