There
are about 40,000 men here in this camp.
Sigel was not in the last fight, he did not want his men to go.
He said he did not start the fight.December 22, 1862
Stafen Courthouse 1070 ½
Honored Parents and Sisters and Brothers,
I received your letter and was pleased to find that you are all healthy which is the greatest joy in all the world to me. I am healthy too and have been eating everything. I have still not received your package and I think you may not have used the correct address. I have waited for a long time now, but it still may come. I have nothing to do but wait.
We had a few cold days of late. I am writing while I am on picket guard duty.
Picket guard is not as good as duty in the camp since you have to stand
the whole time. This is my first
time on picket guard, as I have previously spent the entire time in camp duty.
There
are about 40,000 men here in this camp.
Sigel was not in the last fight, he did not want his men to go.
He said he did not start the fight.
Dear parents, I must ask you to send me some money if you can, I have not
been paid in some weeks. I know
this will be a hardship for you, but I will return your money as soon as I get
paid. I have no money now at all,
or I would not trouble you with this request. It seems that I cost you more here in the army than at home,
but things will change and I will be able to help you again.
Here, all I can do is stay in camp with the regiment.
O, when I am free from the army and home again things will be very
different.
You asked through Taylor about Dalabach and Gestler, if they are good friends
to me. Gestler is a good friend,
but Dalabach is only my friend when I buy good things to eat.
But I cannot do that, I need the things I buy for myself.
I only buy food so that I can stay healthy and able to work.
I cannot write very much this time since we have to move again. I do not know where we are going or if we will be coming back here. I’ll let you know when I write next time.
Dear parents, please write to me as often as you can, I seem to get your
letters if not the packages. I hope
the package will come soon, we have nothing to eat now but hard tack.
Greetings to all.
Jakob