“This morning I was made a Fourth Sergeant”

Camp near Falmouth VA

Saturday, January 31, 1863 [says 1862]

Dear Wife,

I thought I would answer your kind and welcome letter which I received late last night, although I wrote one to you yesterday. I have got some news which I wish to let you know immediately. I went early to the Colonel this morning and applied for a pass to go to Acquia Creek and as good luck would have it this time I was not refused. I shall start early tomorrow morning to go there if I am well and alive. Although it will be a hard days work for me, I guess I can stand it. I suppose it is about 30 miles there and back and such going as it is will make it seem like fifty. So you can tell Julia that Tom shall have his things after all. I have put the things in 2 haversacks and one on each shoulder I will go trudging along through the mud.

I have sent back by Mr. Deming 2 checks and I hope you will get them. One of them belongs to Joseph Corrigan, my tent mate, which he has consigned to his aunt Miss Margaret Corrigan and he will write to her to call there and get it. I don’t know how long it will be but please keep it until she calls for it. I also sent by Mr. Deming a pocket book with some musket caps and cartridges taken at Fredericksburg, which I thought you would like to see.

This morning I was made a fourth sergeant in our Company. So you see I will be relieved from a great deal of extra duty besides getting more pay. My wages now are 17dollars a month. I am sorry you feel so bad every time there is talk of a battle, although I suppose you can’t be blamed for it. If it had not of been for the mud I think there would have been a great many of us slaughtered by this time. But keep up your courage and hope for the best.

General Hooker has not been in any engagement lately at all and I can’t see what the papers took it from. And you spoke about Fletch and the barber business. Tell Sarah I have not bought any of them tools and he, Fletch, denies the statement of saying he wanted six dollars for them. He has not sold them to anybody although most of them is gone, I can’t say where. We never went into the barber business at all because we never had time.

And so hoping this will find you all well, I will here close my letter. Hoping to hear from you soon, my only loved one. I remain, your true and faithful husband,

A kiss

Peter L. Dumont

Take good care of my little ones and God bless them.