Camp Taylor Near Orange C.H.
April 2/62
My Dear Mother
Here we are setting under our shed
after a tedious march of 10 miles yesterday with
our Knapsacks, Guns & all accoutrements, all weighing
about 30 lb. each. pretty good for young recruits–
Well for the description of our trip–We arrived
at sfety Gordonsville, about 1/2 past 12 O’clk
on monday after a very pleasant trip–singing
& dancing, to the music of Volin[sic] & Banjo–
all the way to Gordonsville, where we were
to get our guns &c–but we did not suc-
seed in geting but about 1/3 of our guns till
tuesday therefore we camped about 1 mile from
Gordonsville all night without tents–right
out in the open air–long side a Big
Pine tree–we spread our Blankets & Oil cloths-
& with our Knapsacks as pillows–& a big
fire at our feet–we were fixed much
more comfortable than we could anticipate.
Wed after eating our colld cold supper with
an apetite as if we were at a King’s
table–we fixed ourselves for a dance–& with
Our fiddle & Banjo we enjoyed ourselves finely–
& but for the thoughts of dear ones at
home, it would have been happiest few
hours of my life–Well tuesday about 10 Oclk
we got the box[?] of our Guns &c &c Just
[page 2]
waiting for the train to go to Gordonsville
when all at once we found that we had to
tramp it on our poor feet–So without
further hesitation we started–Well-before
we had gone 2 miles we were all ready
broke down–We layed sprawled ourselves
on our Packs on the ground for a rest–of
almost 15 minutes–then we started Our Knapsacks
heavier than ever Well we scrambled
on for about 3 1/2 or 4 miles–when Tom
& I spyed an Old Negro on a 30 year
old horse–so we pressed him into service
for 50 ¢ apiece I never felt so good in
my life–when I got of that eternal
knapsack–I felt as if Old Jeff had
done set me free for good Well our old
hoss relieved us for about 5 or 6 miles–I rekon
I never invested a 50 ¢ to such a good
purpose in this childs life time. Tom is of
the same opinion–We arrived at Camp
at last–about 3 Oclk–saw the mess
parade–was most cordially recd. by
the boys–I tell you its beautiful to see
the 11th Battalion drill–Well after getting
our Camp Supper–hot Phesant (each weighing
2 lbs) Genuine Coffee & meat fat as
Castor Oil–which we ate with an
apetite ravenously in the extreme–we
went to work to bui[l]d our hut which
we did in double quick time–took a
smoke & went to bed–Well ma you see I
have to stop we are very comfortably fixed
[sideways in margin of page 2]
& in fine spirits & well & hearty–Tom & I both–We are in
the reserve corps–in the rear of the Army–have no tents they being all[?]
burned[?] up at Centreville–Your aft own E.C.B.–Kis & My love to all
[across top margin of page 2]
write again first opportunity do not write
[across bottom margin of page 1]
do not write yet till you without you send by some
one as we expect to move from here about 3 or 4
days–Give my respects through father to M?]
Brinks & Co–]
Edward Cook Barnes [Private, 3rd Virginia Infantry?]
MSS 4444
