Spencer, George A. (fl. 1862-1864) to his Parents
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00653.21.05 Author/Creator: Spencer, George A. (fl. 1862-1864) Place Written: Burnside, Kentucky Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 13 March 1864 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 21 x 12.6 cm. Order a Copy
Written from "Camp Burnside near Point Isabel" (likely Point Isabele), present-day Burnside, Kentucky.
[draft]
Camp Burnside near
Point Isabel, Ky
March 13th 1864
Dear Parents
I have just received your letter of the 3d and am very glad to hear from you and larn that you are well I am well also when we went on the road to work we carried 10 days rations with us [in] a waggon therefore we stayed ten days our Captains name is Jencks and he is a first rate man you ask what kind of provisions those steamers bring, they bring nothing but Gevernment rations such as salt pork Hard tack Coffee bacon salt horse soap & candle flour sugar etc. etc. etc. etc. etc etc etc etc etc etc if you followed the road long enough that we were to walk on you would bring up Knoxville that is if you did not starve to death on the way. they have stoped working on the road now because the Government have concluded not to send any more waggons to Knoxville because they never reach there the mules starve to death on the way. they are going to send the rations on packed mules there is no forage to be had between here and Knoxville for neither man to [nor] beast. we are at present to work on fortifications every man of us, they are fortifing as fast as they can get. get those buttons if you can, I dont know of anything else at present so good by
from your son
Geo A. Spencer
Co. 1 7th R I Vol
Camp Burnside Point Isabel
Ky
Camp Burnside
March 13 64
we had baked beans for breakfast yesterday morning our oven bakes first rate. we expect to have soft bread next week. reenlisting has played out we cant reenlist unless we have been in the service 2 years the river raised night before last and carried away the pontoon bridge it raised 20 feet in one night ask Ed what time it is by his turnip ask him if he has to carry a slate and pencil with him to [ ] up his time with
No more at present
Geo A Spencer
[A sketch of his lodging is on back page - notation reads "one of our tents we live in - chimney on this side"]
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