Camp Convalisent [sic] Alexandria VA

June 18th 1863

Got her letter, sorry he didn’t write sooner, last Tuesday he went to visit the boys at the Fort and on Sunday he spent all day at church. They got paid off and he got $34 all in greenbacks and he doesn’t feel safe sending it just yet while so much money is going over the road. If he doesn’t get to come home he will send it all before they leave here. A number of the boys came here from the hospital at Acquia Creek, all sick. Most of Hookers Army is now near Washington and there is great excitement. Stragglers come in from the front every day saying it will be another Bull Run.

“Now I will tell you all that I know about Menzo [Gibbon?] at the time he was killed [crossed out-were] we were in the woods seeking shelter from the Enemys shells & waiting to get the order to form in lie of Battle he was in a stooping position with his back towards the enemy & Dimbleby was close to him Dimbleby fell down behind him when he heard the fire or else the same shell would of killed them both the shell took effect about 2 inches above the eyebrows taking off the upper part of his head Completely he fell over backwards on Dimbleby and never moved a muscle we were imediately [sic] ordered in line of Battle & as I passed the spot where he lay I took a last look at him his features were Composed & I thought I discerned a smile on his face what ever became of his Remains after is more than I can tell I saw many that had met with a similar fate on that bloody field he marched towards the enemy Bravely & had met a soldiers fate he seemed to have a Presentiment that he was going to be killed for he told some of the Boys the night before he would never live to come out of this Battle but he showed no Cowardice tell his mother I don’t think she can ever Recover his body & if she could he was so mutilated she could not bare [sic] to look at him She has the Consolation however to know he died bravely and in the defence [sic] of his Country I trust he has gone to a better place than earth can afford us poor mortals.”

The ring he sent Clara is made of beef bone. He assumes she was joking that he made it of human bone and laughed when he read that part of her letter. He made one for Ida but broke it before it was done so he’ll try to make another. “You spoke about telegraphing for me I don’t know how it would work Here you can do as you think best about

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