Camp on the Rapidan Sept. 22nd 1863
Dear Mother,
Your very long looked for letter at length arrived and was received with great pleasure and satisfaction I am very pleased to hear that you are all well and that things are going so well. We are encamped in sight of the govnt Rebels. We are laying on one side of the Rapidan River and they are on the other. Our Pickets are within shooting distance of each other but since the first day they do not fire on each other. I was down to the river yesterday and there had a very good sight of the rebel soldier big as life on the other side of the stream which is not near as wide as Penns Creek and our pickets are on this side of it. They are very strongly fortified and will make a pretty good show of a fight but I have no doubt but that we will be able to drive them from the mountains upon which they are fortified: There is no telling when the fight will take place as we have had orders to be ready to fall in at a moments notice for the last week, but I think that a fight will very shortly take place. Well, I think that we are ready and will be more than a good match for them. You told me to obey Capt. Davis. There is no danger that I will disobey him I like the Captain very much. He is a brave and good officer and all the boys are very proud of him. He is _________________ and is very kind to me. I am sixth corporal and soon will be fifth. Theodore Parks Is 2nd Lieut. I also like Nel Byers. He has been very kind to me and used me as well as could be expected by ones own brother, but I like the Captain best. I get letters most every week from Mrs. Henry Bright In Sunbury and: you can __________________ and 20 miles around. she has sent me paper and postage stamps. Several times I wrote a long letter to Lock Haven but did not get an answer. I do not know whether she got it or not. I would very much like to hear from her often and if she would answer my letters I would write regular to her. Tell her this in your next letter, give her my address and then she can send: them right on to me. Tell her to address J. .A Lumbard Co. G, 147th PV ft Brig. 2nd Div. 12th Army Corps, Washington, D.C..
I got the postage stamps and all the things you have even sent. Shirts, tea, chocolate, paper, envelopes, handkerchief and so forth. Leut. Byers has not arrived here yet, consequently I did not get the things you sent by him, but will when he comes. ______ told me to keep ____________________________________________________________________ as there is no telling. If I live you will never suffer but should be killed
It might go very hard with you but we will hope for the best. It is all in the hands of the Ruler of the Universe and: as he wills it so it goes and we must think all is for the best. Should I fall it will not be in a Disgraceful manner _____________________________ ______________________that is right and just. Just think what would have become of the people if we had not whipped the Rebel Army at Gettysburg. I seen dozens of
people turned out of their homes and their grain destroyed and houses burnt and in some instances men, women and children killed but we sure drove them out of the old Keystone state and soon hope to see them conquered. Don’t alarm yourself about my writing to that girl I have written my last letter and am satisfied. I just wanted to find out something and; when that is done, I am done also. I did not think she was such a darn fool as to blow about it but would keep it a secret since it has turned out as it did I have written my last to her.
I must bring my letter to a close. Give my best respects to Mrs. Davis. Tell Katy to write another big letter like the last one. Tell me what
Became of______________________________________________________________
you can send; me some this week. Write soon. I remain your affectionate son
J. A. Lumbard
Ms. Davis
Madam
Please hand this to .Mrs. Mary Duck. I direct this letter in your name so that mother gets it immediately for fear that she might not send to the office. Am obliged.
Your soldier friend.
J. A. Lumbard
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