October  1

To My Daughter Julie,                                                                                                                   

Dearest Julie,

Best wishes to you on this, your 12th birthday. I am glad that you are able to spend this special day with your brothers, sisters, mother and Aunt Jeannine. I know that James and Jen would have liked to be there as well if not for the distance of travel involved. We must cherish the days when we can ALL be together again, without empty chairs at the dining table.

Your birthday breakfast of sausage AND bacon leaves me pining to join you soon, and sharing a plate of them with fresh hoe cakes !

I was saddened to hear  that ‘coons had gotten into the chicken pen and killed three of the hens. Even at home there are dangers that must be guarded against, and precautions and vigilance need be practiced at all times.

I read with interest your suggestion that apple vinegar may be used to clean the rifle barrels, and must try that when next needed. Your schooling in chemistry is already paying off ! I look forward to any other “home remedies” you may discover that would be useful in camp.

We have been told to be prepared to be on the move again soon, and much of the next few days will be spent making rounds and tearing “patches” for cleaning the rifles. In the cooler weather I must be certain to pack the great coat and a few extra wool socks. Tell your sister to start mending !

See if you can procure some more molasses for me, a warm cup of switchel will help to take the chill off as well – the camp coffee gets awful “heavy” by the end of the day, and I fear that it melts the “pipes” and would likely dissolve the tent spikes if we left one in the pot all day.

It is encouraging to see the new recruits in camp, it reinforces the need to keep up the efforts of the confederacy and boosts our spirits to know that there are good men willing to make sacrifices for our cause.

Aunt Jeannine tells me that you are taking private lessons  in horse riding. I hear that “Sky” is your favorite. Take my advice : beware of any cavalrymen, no matter HOW cute they are,  and mind your “horsin’ around”.

Lovingly, Your Father, Jim

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