Camp Clara Virginia Feb 15 1862
Saturday afternoon
I received your kind and ever welcome letter about half an hour since and as we have to out on picket tomorrow and be gone a week, I thought I had better answer it this afternoon and not wait till I come back for fear I might be some like yourself – the longer I wait, the less I have to write about. I presume I might have waited till I got back from picket and then told you a good long yarn about that. But as that is against my principals I guess on the whole I had better answer it now, don’t you?
Well Rand, there is not news to write about any way. It is rumored now that we are going to Kentucky but when no one knows that I have heard say anything about it. So I take it to be a hoax. Yet I hope it may be true for I have got tired of staying here in this muddy hole. It has been snowing all day thus far and there is some prospects now of our having sleighing. But the next question- to where are we to get our sleigh from? Uncle Sam has lots of horses, such as they are, but nary a sleigh is there to be had. Can’t you send me down one so I can say I too have had one sleigh ride? Well I don’t know as it will pay for you to lend me one either for first- as like as not by tomorrow night there will not be any snow to be seen for our snowstorm generally ends in a rain which does not stop till the snow is all gone. Won’t we have a nice time going out tomorrow morning if it keeps on snowing. I was in hopes it would be good weather while we were out. It looks rather dubious now, though.
Rand did you receive any valentines this year? One of my tent-mates received one from Clyde (NY) today. I think it is real mean I did not get one too, don’t you?
Then you think you would not like to have seen the fight at Fort Pickens you are just like me for I would like to have been there and seen it. I don’t think it could beat Bull Run. I have thought some of trying to get a furlough after we get our pay next time but as things begin to look as though they were going to be settled up now in a short time I thought I would wait and then when I came I could stay and not have to come back again.
We have had a pretty good time down here for the last four weeks. The mud had been so deep that we could not drill and we have down nothing but sit around in our tents (only when we wanted some wood and water) tell stories, smoke and talk about the good old times we are going to have if we live to get home which we expect to if the Secesh don’t kill us. I have not seen or heard from Linc or Hank[2] since they were over to see me that time. I am going to try and go over to see them after pay day if they’re there till then and we stay here.
I am afraid my letter will be as you said yours was- rather dry. You know I am rather a quiet sort of person therefore you cannot expect anything but a dry letter from me. I will do my part toward whipping the rebels, tell your father, if they will only give me a chance. I will also try and be a good boy and mind ‘Uncle Sam’ and then perhaps when he dies, he will remember me in his will.
Sarah Ann told me about being over to your home but did not say who went with her. I guess George Lawrence[3] goes there pretty regular, don’t he? She said Tom[4] was not over there to your house but said she guessed there was not many Sundays but that he was there. How is that, Rand?
All the duty we have to do now is target shooting and drilling in the Bayonet Exercise. Our company went out the other day and put about sixty balls in the target and standard at a distance of 250 yards or 44 rods.
It is snowing yet and the snow is about 3 inches deep. I believe that I have written all that I can think of and more too. Oh- the next night you attend please kiss all the girls for me! Remember me to your Father, Mother & Carrie[5]. Write soon and oblige ever you sincere and true friend
J.A. Braden[6]
Company ‘B’ 27th Regt NYSV
Washington DC
[1] Rand refers to Erranda Wibert born 4 Nov 1846 in Galen died 2 Mar 1932
[2] Hank refers to Henry Backman born about 1831 in Wayne Co, NY to Abram & Catherine Backman
[3] George Lawrence born about 1838 Chenango Co, NY to William R. & Lucy Lawrence
[4] Thomas Akenhead born July 1838 to Thomas & Florinda Akenhead in Wayne County, NY. Erranda married Thomas in 1865
[5] Erranda’s sister Caroline Wibert born in Mar 1844 in Galen, Wayne Co, NY to George M. & Julia A. Wibert
[6] Joseph Alonzo Braden born 11 July 1840 in Seneca Co, NY to Louis & Electa (Moore) Braden. He became a infantryman in the Union service 30 April 1861 in Co. D, 27th Regiment, NY Volunteers under Colonel Slocum. His command was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and participated in the First Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas) and in all the engagements of the McClellan campaign. He emerged from his period of service unscathed and was discharged in June 1863. On 23 March, 1864 he married Lucy Angel born 20 March 1845 in Galen, Wayne Co, NY.
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