Camp Parole Va

Sunday Sept 27^th 1863

“To day has been one of the Most lonesome Sunday I believe I have ever seen since I have been down here the eleventh & twelvth [sic] Corps of Paroled Prisoners have left this Camp & gone to join their Regiments fully armed for the front & it leaves the Camp Quite Naked & I am expecting every moment while I am writeing [sic] this letter to get Orders for the fifth Corps to go fletch has been ordered to Report here to go with us he feels very bad about going But that don’t do any good he thought he was going to stay with the docters [sic] at the Hospital”. Some complain about their health to get excused from going back but he “cant put on Cheek enough when nothing ails me No I will go & when I cant go no farther then I will stop & have a Clear Concience [sic] that I have not tried to shirk my duty although I don’t want to go to the front any more than any other man I have tried every way to get home to see you & my little ones & every means has failed so far So I will try & feel Resigned to my fate tell Ida her Pa will come one of these days & then her Pa will stay with her never to leave her any more oh I would give the world to see you all once more Dear Clara if that would do it But it wont so we will have to hope & wait & put our trust in Providence Untill [sic] Brighter days dawn upon us & I feel that is not far distant for it seems as if the day must soon come when this war is ended I was in hopes it would die out with the song (when this cruel war is over) but that is worn out some time ago & almost forgotten” Lengthy statement that she must keep up her courage and not feel miserable and God will comfort her. “I wish you was in another house for I am afraid you will suffer very much from the Cold in that old house you live in.” If he could have been there for a few weeks he would have worked on making her comfortable but she’ll have to do it herself.

“Dear Clara you need not feel afraid of my ever deserting for that is the last thing I shall ever think of & I shall ever try to be Deserving So if there is a chance of Promotion I shall try & be one on the list for it I made a big jump over Quite a number of the Corporals & Sergst last winter & perhaps I may make another one this winter”. Lengthy closing.