Camp near Potomac Creek, VA

March the 4th, 1863

[eagle with shield red and blue letterhead]

Is well. “This morning I have sent that great pipe home to you hopeing [sic] it will reach you all right it has been the work of my own hands and the pastime of many lonely hours of my soldiers life and I think I have wiled them away advanteousty [sic].” Everyone in the Regiment says his is the best yet. He has been offered 9 and 10 dollars for it time again and maybe he should have sold it but wants her to see it. He made it with just a large jackknife. He could make a dozen and sell them to the officers but he wants to come home and use it himself “if they will onley [sic] settle this foolish war”. Is sending her 75 cents in this letter “which has been earnt by a jack knife and a whittleing [sic] yankee and that is myself they call me so sometimes down here because I am a whittleing [sic] something all the time”. He made the stem from a laurel bush and the bowl from the root. He’s sending it by Sergeant Major Mr. Wright who is going home on furlough. Wants her to write when she gets it because so many people have wanted it that he thinks she’ll never get it. Everyone is anxious for peace. It rains or snows every other day and is cold. If she hasn’t sent the gloves yet don’t send them because he has a good pair now that the company got a box from Camden. His old ones were worn out. Wants her to watch her health and that of the children because whenever he hears they are sick he thinks about it for days.

“and now I must close hopeing [sic] that the giver of all good is watching over you and my blessed little lambs. Dearest Clara kiss them often for me and tell them of their Pa who is far away and would gladly come and kiss them if he could but god wills it not yet and now hopeing [sic] to hear from you soon I remain your Companion you [sic] fond and loveing [sic] until Death - Peter L. Dumont”. P.S. Tom is well and on duty, tents with Ed Burbrige [?] who got a box and is living high off it.