Stevensburg Virginia February. 24th 1864 Dear Father and Mother, I have waited long and anxiously for a letter from you yet none has come.. It has now been many days. and I could almost say weeks. for I have. forgotten the date on which your last was received and I feel almost homesick and have finally resorted to the writing a letter.. just to keep communications open.. I am usually well. better than when I last wrote you.. and trust that. sickness among you has not been the cause of your neglecting to write. The weather has been beautiful for a week past. and the roads are in excellent condition. Stevensburg Virginia February. 24th 1864 Dear Father and Mother, I have waited long and anxiously for a letter from you yet none has come.. It has now been many days. and I could almost say weeks. for I have. forgotten the date on which your last was received and I feel almost homesick and have finally resorted to the writing a letter.. just to keep communications open.. I am usually well. better than when I last wrote you.. and trust that. sickness among you has not been the cause of your neglecting to write. The weather has been beautiful for a week past. and the roads are in excellent condition. I attended the review. and was much interested in it as it was the first review of so large a number of I had seen troops ^.. The review of our division near Frederick last June was the largest I before ever saw ^.. The troops actually under review. numbered. I should judge about 10,000. They made a line nearly a mile in length and consisted of such of our division as were not on picket. the two light batteries belong ing to our division. and the infantry and artillery belonging to the 2nd Corps.. A large number of ladies were present. I estimated them at over two hundred. a large share of whom rode on horseback. the others in ambulances. Gen Meade was accompanied by a young lady. supposed to have been his daughter.. President Hamlin's daugh ters were also present. After the troops of had passed in review. Kilpatrick drew up two regts of cavalry. and went through a mounted skirmish and charge. which were well executed. I have watched the papers quite closely since the annnouncement the escape of the 109 from Libby Prison that I might learn if any of my friends chanced to be among the number. Yester days issue gave the names. of several recap tured and among them Lieut [Greble?] of the 8th Mich. I am confident that he is our old acquaintance. I have noticed the name of one Major of the 20th Ind. (Rene's regt.) who arrived at Fortress Monroe. and a Capt. of the same who was recaptured.. But can hear nothing of Rene. I am in hopes he was lucky enough to escape safe and sound.. I am much interested in the movements of Sherman and sincerely hope he may be successful in everything I hope that the rumor of his captur ing 12000 prisoners may not be contradicted I received a letter this evening saying that recruiting was going on quite lively in Buchanan. I am glad to see it.. and cant say that I pity the poor devils. whom I tried to enlist for our regiment. and now take up with infantry. How. are you. “Dough Boys” Father, I know you used to advise me if I ever enlisted to go in infantry and I used to think so. too. but my ideas have undergone a very material change since coming into Virginia. and I now think as we soldiers. say. “No infantry on my plate” They have a slight advantage over us while in camp. by having no horses to see to. but there are very few men who have passed through one seasons campaigns that is not willing to take care of a horse for the sake of having one to ride.. All the bounties that Uncle Sam could offer. could never induce me to become an enlisted man in infantry. You ought to see one in full equippage. A large “Government Bureau” on his back. full of clothing blankets etc. a haversack with five days rations of “Hard Tack and Salt Horse” slung under one arm. A canteen and a cap under the other. a frying pan and coffee pot. tucked away some where or carried in one hand. His rifle weighing at the least fourteen pounds. his belt and cartridge box with from 40 to 60 rounds of ball cartridge each one of which will weigh more than an ounce. and some have a heavy sabre bayonet in addition to these. Now isnt that a nice little load for a man to carry. They take as much luggage as we do on our horses with the ex ception of our saddles. I hear that “Neil Sparks has en listed for our company. I hope this is not so. although the news comes from a source that leaves but little room for doubt. I hope he may be rejected and that it was not the delegate sent from our company to Niles who enlisted him. The Pay. Master arrived in camp last Friday and has been busy since in paying the men their wages for the months of November and December. Our regt was paid yesterday.. One day last week I heard that we could get photograhs taken at one of our regt and went over and sat for some. I will send you one. It will be needless for me to say that they are poor ones you as one glance will satisfy ^ on that fact.. I shall try to get a few ambrotypes before breaking up winter quarters.. I am about as heavy this winter as I have ever been since coming into the army. I weigh from 143 to 145, in my common fatigue suit. without any overcoat. I have worn no vest and no undershirt at any time this winter and much of the time only a light woolen sack coat not lined at that. If it will not be too expensive or too difficult for you to obtain them I would like to have you send me two light flannel shirts of some dark color. I do not like the shirts furnished by govt. and cannot look at any shirt at a Sutlers shop. for less than five dollars. and I had rather pay even that sum at home and be sure of getting a good shirt. Send them by mail. and buy them at my expense I will try to send home some money in a few days. With my best wishes for the health and prosperity of you all. and beleiving that it will not be long till we meet in peace I remain your Affectionate Son E R H