Fairfax Station, Va. March 13, 1863

Dear Parents:

Yours of the 13th came to hand yesterday, and today finds me without a great deal of business on my hands, so I propose to fill the sheet you enclosed, though I am not out of stationery just now. The weather today is quite spring like, more like May than March, warm enough so that fires are quite unnecessary.

Our boys are digging rifle pits now, have been at it for several days. I dug for three days and today am detailed to act as supernumerary, which is simply to attend guard mounting and to go on the usual drills tomorrow. I will have to go on guard. The three regiments stationed here have dug several miles of rifle pits, and are still diggings so you see if Stonewall of any other Wall wants us he will have to work for us. Co. B. went out on a scout the other night and captured four Rebs. sesesh citizens, I suppose. They had a pretty severe tramp, from 16 to 18 miles, I believe. The prisoners were taken over to Co. Blunt's headquarters, and what was done with them then I do not know. One of our company, Mike Sullivan, got hurt yesterday while out on fatigue when a tree fell on him. He is better today, but he did some extensive swearing, that is, when he was able to talk again....

I am the only one left in the tent today, all the rest being out on the pits. The rumor is that we are to be paid off next week, for four months instead of two. I do not know whether it will prove true or not, and do not much care, as I have plenty of money for the present. Would you believe it? Crane has got his discharge on account of ill health, though some say it was because the colonel had got sick of him as cook. There was another one discharged at the same time that really needed a discharge: Dodge of Andover, and I am heartily glad he got it. We have got a new orderly at last in the person of Matt Clark. I think the boys will like him very well. Far be it from me to ridicule the contents of Uncle Joe's box, though the assortment would not have been one of my choosing, if bitter "herbs" are good for the blues, let him have them of course... His dried apples, dried beef and even the butter were very good things and I have no doubt what his meal will prove a good thing for him, but for the medicines filagree ee.

There was a scouting party sent out from our regiment this afternoon. They found a few old tents, a musket, etc. I do not know exactly what, and 'tis said that there is another party going out tonight, to try and get a Reb. Very many of the citizens about here are believed to be peaceable enough in the daytime, and are supposed to act as guerrillas at night, and the officers seem to be taking measures to catch the rascals.

I saw a sesesh cow near camp today, and by the appearance of things, I thought the poor calf might go hungry if his mammy didn't keep away from camp. Spinning are you? Well I should think you were taking up new trades in your old age. Perhaps you are spinning some of the same rolls you brought from Proctorsville. I have the promise of going to Washington some day before long, what day I cannot yet tell. I believe that the health of the company is as good as it has been at any time since they commenced having measles. Ezra Weston is perhaps the sickest of any of the Plymouth boys, but he is a little better today....

I am somewhat surprised at learning that Ella has taken orders just at this present time, but a body must learn to be surprised at nothing nowadays, though I should think that happy couple might send me their card. .... H.G. Day

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Contributed by Linda M. Welch, Dartmouth College, Windsor County researcher.

Return to the Index of Hezron's letters..

See also Hezron's biography, and his memoir of the Gettysburg Campaign.