19th Maine Infantry WIA - Wilderness

Item LTR-58

Description

3.5 pages written in period ink

In camp Near Warrington, VA Oct 25, 1863
Friend Croswell,

AS I have not had a chance to write you very lately I thought I would improve the present opportunity to write you a few lines to let you know what I have been doing since I wrote you last. We were ordered to march from Morrisville Sept 11th to advance on the Rebs. Marched to Culpeper without having a fight as the cavalry was in the advance there. I was detailed to take conscripts back to the rear and drill them. Marched back about twenty miles and encamped and commenced operations and was away from the regiment until the 9th of this month. Was ordered to report to the regiment, which I did the same day and found a letter from you and was very glad to hear from you, as it had been a long time that I did not hear from anyone. When I was away I was away from the mail point so I could not send nor receive the mail. Should answered your letter before but that night at twelve o’clock we were ordered to draw eight days rations and march at daylight and have been on the march ever since so you will see that I have not had a chance to write. Our Corps had a smart fight with the Rebs the 14th and drove them but I suppose that you have heard all about it before this time. So all that I will say about it is that the 19th stood up to the work like men. As for myself, I done my duty and if everyone did that it would not be long before this war would be closed. In regard to the hay on the place, you had better use your own judgment as you can tell better than I can what would be best but I would like to have the manure on the place if you think best. My health is very good and I enjoy myself as well as I can under the circumstances and hope to be able to come home before the winter is over. But it is hard to tell what will happen but I shall hope for the best and take things as they come. I do not think that we shall have much more fighting to do here this winter for it is getting muddy and after we get a few more rains it will be impossible to move artillery without too much trouble so I am looking for orders to go into winter quarters soon and then I shall try for a furlough to come home and I think that I can get it. Write me as soon as you get this and write me all the news and what you think of the last call for three hundred thousand volunteers and if you think that they will volunteer so as not to draft.

From your friend
Walter Jordan
P.S. send me a few postage stamps