I am now at a picket post. Came out here yesterday at 12 o’clock. Soon it began to snow with very heavy beating wind from the East. The wind grew stronger and the snow fell faster, and continued to fall till 12 or one o’clock in the night. This morning it will average 10 or 12 inches deep and in places is drifted two or three feet deep. But the clouds have passed off, the sun is shining, and the wind has ceased to blow. We had to stay awake all night, having received strict orders for nobody on the line to sleep. And how do you suppose we kept from freezing to death? Well, we had some planks, part of the rough of some little building, and pine brush which we fixed up in such a manner as to protect us from the wind, and keep some of the snow off. But I tell you our eyes are well smoked, and upon the whole we had a rough night of it. It was very cold all day yesterday and last night; almost such a time as that Sunday on which the great snow storm fell several years ago. I guess the Yankees sufferred some too; we can see them from our post plainly on the opposite side of the river. This morning is quite calm, and looks like the weather was going to be mild.
Your letter was received here Sunday night. I was much
pleased to hear you had your exemption papers renewed and would get to stay at home. I hope
you will never have to go to the army. If I was out I think I could stay out. But getting
out is the misery of it. I have concluded to be a candidate for Magistracy, but I reckon
Peter A. Jennings will beat me. I learn he is an
opposing candidate. But I expect to run through any way and see what I can do. I want you
to keep me posted; that is, let me
know who all will oppose me, what the prospect
is for my election etc. I don’t know yet whether Governor
Smith will allow me to hold the office or not, should I be elected. But say
nothing about that. Do all you can for me and let me know whether the people generally are
favorable to my being a candidate. You can find out from James
Durnil, and get him to work a little slily if he is a Smith man. I want to know who are running for Sheriff,
Commissioner, and so on, also whether there will be more than one Justice of the Peace elected in
our district this Spring.
Now, you must make my knives and
forks soon as you can and I will try to have the money ready for you by the time they are done. The knife
you made me answers an excellent purpose here. I carry it in my haver-sack and will try not to lose it. You asked when Oliver and Calvin would be at home. I now fear they will not get to
go this Spring. For some cause, the forloughing was stopped about 10 days ago
and we don’t know whether it will be resumed again this Spring or not. There were
four of our company who had furlough already to start home; we were ordered to retain them, so they
are not gone yet. Tell Pop Lindsey
he will have to bear it patiently, may be Oliver will
come after a while.
It is said that Genl.
Grant is now in command of the Yankee army here. He is the man who tore us
up at Fort Donelson. I dread him now more than
any Yankee general they have had here.
I am quite well and feel somewhat revived
this morning, having taken a hearty breakfast of corn bread, bacon, and Yankee
coffee. Write oftener than you have been doing. Yours is the only letter I have had from
any of you since I left home. We will be relieved from picket at 12 o’clock. Then we
will have to go into the woods and do the best we can in the snow. We have to stay down
here till next Monday.
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