Bristoe Station Va.
April 2, 1864
My dear father,
Your welcome letter of March 30th written at New York was received this morning. You do right in keeping me posted in regard to your business matters, for I am always glad to hear from you in relation to your success in the sale of your lands. I think if there is money in them, you might as well get it as somebody else.
I wrote a letter to you two or three days since, which I presume you have received before this. Since my last letter nothing has transpired here worthy of note. The weather has been extremely disagreeable—raining or sleeting nearly all the time for several days past. It has stopped the transportation of troops temporarily, but when pleasant weather comes again we expect the troops to pour in rapidly. We may need all the available men when the Spring Campaign opens, for it is said that Lee is being reinforced by some of Johnson’s Command, and that [Confederate Lieutenant General James] Longstreet is moving up in this direction. Rumors are plentier than blackberries in harvest, with our Division the latest is that we are to be taken back to the State about the 1st of next month. Another is that we are to remain as railroad guards until our time shall have expired. I wish I knew what is to be done with us. I never felt impatient to be free until within the past two months. Weeks seem months as the expiration of our term of enlistment draws nigh. If discharged in three years from the date of our first enlistment, I would get out in two weeks from today. But—I won’t think of it any more.
I visited the 10th Regiment, which is at Manassas, yesterday. Coop. Cochran is now Captain of Co. “C”. He is under charges however for drunkenness etc. and will in all probability be summarily dealt with. Jess Pryer is in good spirits. If Cochran is dismissed Jess will stand a good chance for a Commission. I hope he’ll get it. If you wish me to address you at Cleveland let me know.
Nothing more at present but remaining
Yours afftyy.
J. D. Chadwick
Next posting: April 27, 2014
Jonathan E. Helmreich
College Historian
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335