Franklin County: Lucius P. Mox to Jennie, April 27,
1864
Summary:
Mox describes recent troop movements and declares that he wants to get revenge on
the rebels. He also says he wishes he could be home with Jennie.
Jennie
April 27th 1864
Camp Stoneman
Dear Jennie
It has been so long since I heard from you but I believe I told you to direct
your last to my Regiment so I could not expect to receive it here when I wrote
last I expected to be sent to my Reg - the next
day but we were sent to Camp [unclear: Cadwalader] where we stayed until
the 10th of April when we were sent to Alexandria and from
there back to this place again we are encamped on a high bluff on the Maryland
side of the Potomac and nearly half a mile from the river, we have a plain view
of Alexandria, Fairfax, Arlington, Georgetown, Washington, the long bridge
[page 2]
and the navy yard besides almost innumerable camps on both sides of
the river.
I have been well contented here and would be willing to stay till the close of
the war but that is more than I have a right to expect we have everything verry nice we have good tents and shade trees planted
among them, pretty uniforms and splended new Sabres as bright as steel can be
made and several good Brass Bands playing every day with the booming of the big
guns on the forts rendering this quite a military place, indeed, Jennie I am quite
proud of my situation it is splendid. I just wish you
could be here to see how nice soldiers can live there is a great contrast
between this and what we will soon have to see. We will get our orders in a few
days and when they are drilled we will go "to fill the vacant ranks of our
brothers gone before."
[page 3]
I must confess I was a little sorry to leave Philadelphia it is the best place I ever found in some respects. I mean but there are some more virtuous places in the world (Sherman's dale for example) we are not bothered with many lady [illeg.] [illeg.] about here but it is said that a brick building on a hill about two miles from here that was once the home of some arristocratic rebel is now the residence of half a score of verry pretty young ladies: for my part I have not seen them so I will not pass my judgement upon them.
It is my business now to learn how to handle the instruments of death so that my
life will not have to go as the price of my ignorance. I have a good sword and
intend to make good use of it. The rebels have lately been commiting some
horrible wholesale murders among our soldiers
[page 4]
and now "revenge" shall be our motto. there has more than forty thousand Yankee soldiers pass Washington this week
and where they go there will be something down there has been an almost
continual stream of soldiers crossing the long bridge for several days and they
are not all over yet I think that from present appearances we will soon be able
to write that lovely word
pease
with the heart blood of rebellion.
Now Jennie I hope you will excuse me for not being more interesting this time for I am a little inclined to be lazy this after noon my tent mates are all out on guard and I am alone; the weather is very warm and the trees begin to look green. Indeed Jennie I really wished myself back in Perry County some of these pretty moonlit nights last week but I must quit and go to my supper. Give my love to all the rest of your family and believe me as ever
Your affectionate friend,
Lucius P. Mox
Camp Stoneman
1st Division
2nd Brigade
Co. I 17th
Pa Cav.
Washington
Tell me when you got the letters I sent you some time ago. L.P.M.
