Camp at Gaines’ Mill, Va.,
Monday, June 16, 1862.
Dear Mother:—
I received your letter of the 10th yesterday. I was writing at the time and intended to answer yours as soon as I finished the one I was writing, but a thunder storm came up and prevented me. I suppose you would think at home that was a singular excuse, but anyone who has lived in these shelter tents any length of time can appreciate the difficulties of writing in a heavy shower, perfectly. The wind blows and the rain comes down in great drops that spatter right through our light canvas tents. It whirls round and comes driving in the door, and by the time we have something hung up to stop that fun, there is a pretty large creek running right through where we want to sleep, and as that won’t do, why that must be attended to also, and so it goes. This is a great country for rain. It rains for two days and the next day it rains, and then we have some rain and wet weather. For a wonder we had three or four very hot days last week, but the rain yesterday afternoon was cold and last night we slept cold. Night before was very hot and we could not sleep for the heat.
I feel better this morning than I have in some time before. I have been quite unwell since the fight. I got very weak and couldn’t eat, but I’m just about all right again now. It seems wonderful that I have stood it so well.
With regard to Captain Austin’s complimentary remarks, I presume he was conscientious in what he said, but I must say if that was a specimen of his judgment, he is a very poor judge of military matters. I think, however, that I have done tolerably well in some things. I’ve been in the service over a year now and I’ve never been “pricked” (marked absent without leave) or had any extra duty imposed on me for misconduct. I’ve never been in the guardhouse or had any serious difficulties with officers or men. The nearest I have come to that was two or three days ago when I turned around and struck a fellow a tolerable crack in the face for his extra exertions to get his feet entangled with mine in the ranks. It made some little stir for the time being, but the captain did not say a word. I know he did not blame me much, but it would not do to say anything in defense of such conduct in the ranks, and so he said nothing. I feel well enough satisfied myself and I have an idea that the fellow, who is the veriest bloat and bully in the company, will conclude to let me alone. I suppose he thought as some others did, because I never wrestle or scuffle or box, that I hadn’t much spunk, and could be snubbed round by a bigger fellow with impunity. I don’t know as my temper is any better than it used to be, but I control it rather more. I suppose you won’t think the above is evidence of the fact, but my ideas of non-resistance are different from Father’s and, perhaps, from yours.
