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Camp near Nashville, Tenn. Feb. 22 '63
Dear Henry:
Yours of the 18th ult. is at hand, having been forwarded from Somersville, Va; and I will have to answer it in brief to=night, as we are under marching orders for to=morrow morning at 3.30, and I do not know when I shall have an opportunity of writing again. Our destination is unknown to your humble servant. I do not know of any regiment in the service which has been moved about quite as much as the "Gipsies," as Genl Wise used to call us. -- I am glad to hear that you are having good times in old Southampton. Do not imagine that the toils and privations of a soldier's life have made such a misanthrope of me that hearing of those good things you describe would cause "hard thoughts." As far as wishing myself out of the army is concerned I have wished it long ago, but shall only get out honorably -- either an honorable discharge or death.
Give my "Best" to all the friends and especially remember me to "Katie darling." How I wish that instead of lying down tonight with my cold and bony masculine bedfellow, and being bothered by those parasites which even poor soldiers have, I could have the pleasure of folding-a -- what in the D -- l was I going to say? The tattoo has just commenced to beat, and I must close as taps will beat in 15 minutes for "lights out".
Your old friend
D.R.P. Shoemaker
H.A.Bitner, Esq.
Address
D.R.P. Shoemaker
Co. "E" 11th Reg. O.V.I.
Via Cincinnati Ohio
P.S. I think our destination is Cumberland Ford, Kentucky. D.R.P.S.
P.P.S.- Carthage, Tenn. Feb. 28, 1863 We are here. Direct your letter via Galatin, [ Ky] Tenn.
- 1863
- Source:
