Letter #61 Envelope addressed: Mrs. F. D. Wheeler Saratoga Springs N. Y. Camp near Bell Plain Va April 1 1863 Dear Mother I rec'd your letter this evening. Was glad to hear from home. We are all well, and having easy times. The weather was quite pleasant to day but yesterday it snowed and rained all day. One day will be like summer and the next like winter. The roads are very good now, but there seems no prospect of a move soon, many believe we shall lay here some time yet, to wait for operations some where else. I think we gain by waiting for the rebels are growing weaker every day. I think if we should lay still six months they would give up from starvation. Lieut Winne has been promoted, he is now Capt of Co. F. and my orderly Thomas, who was with me home is now my 2d Lieut. Frank Thomas, who was home last Pg2 summer is now 1st Lieut in Co. H. There has been ten commissions in my Co since we came out, that is doing pretty well for one company. There is a dance in one of the streets to night, they hve two fiddles going and are having a gay time. The boys are very happy and contented now. We drill most every day now, Company drill in the fornoon, and Battalion drill in the afternoon. The Paymaster has not come around yet, we expect him soon. I wish father would look around for a house and let me know when he finds a cheap place. Have Mr Hale give the price of his place. Write in your next about the house on Matilda street. Covell's folks need not doubt but that Seth Duel has deserted, for if not where is he, he is not with the Regt and has no leave to go away, and that is desertion. Michael McDade, who deserted at the same time died yesterday in the hospital. I have often thought of Tom Taylor, and whether he was in the rebel army. I used to be quite intimate Pg3 with him and liked him much. I am sorry he is a cripple. From what Virgil used to tell me, I guess Dr Whiting will have no trouble in (prescribing--underlined) for the people across the road. I hope Mr Hale will take good care of the soldiers wives. I suppose they are (needy--underlined). he was always a very (benevolent--underlined) man. I want Wendell to write me a full account of every party he goes to and tell him not to fall in love with any Irish girl, he should look higher. I would advise you to let him go with the girls as much as he choses. I think it is a good thing for a boy to court young, for it will keep him out of mischief. It always kept me out of bad company, my having a girl, for I was afraid of losing her good opinion if I was caught in bad company, so I came up amid the quicksands of Saratoga with a good name. and I lay it all to my being in love. You used to talk a good deal to me about going to see Nellie Hoyt, and try to stop me, if you had succeeded I have no doubt I should have been ruined for there is many temptations for a Pg4 young fellow in Saratoga and if I had not passed my evenings with her I might have been in a worst place. Tell Abbie that Alice's sister's name is Ida. Abbie must write again, she write very good letters but rather short. You must excuse this letter, for I have wrote it by candle light which is not very steady for the wind blows in between the cracks in my tent. I have lots of writing to do now, to make out my Quarterly and Monthly Returns to Washington, but I shall soon be over it. Ell Bradley has been here two days, visiting Dan Smith. Give my love to all and all write soon. Your Son Luther -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT