Pittsburg Landing, Mar 26, 1862My Dear Sarah,
Today we received a lot of good letters from home. One from you, one from Kate, one from John, one from Leander, Hugh and Silas, from Rebecca, Sarah, John and James. Sorry to hear of J.B.C. being so bad off. I am afraid they will all have the small pox at Salem. I wrote to James and Lee yesterday, so as usual I have nothing to write. In fact, I do not know how I will fill this sheet. John says he is coming in two or three weeks. All I have to say is he will be a fool if he does. Col. Ransom and McKee does not expect him under six weeks, if then. I spoke to McKee about the recruits wanting to come with John. He says he does not want to recruit up. But if they come, he will take them. As to sending passes, it is played out, but it costs nothing to come from Cairo here. So the expense is very light. You all expect for us to be vaccinated. It is no use talking about it. No such stuff here. I heard Col. Ransom cursing about it. If I was crazy to vaccinate or if it could save my life ten thousand times, it would be out of my power. But if I could get it done by walking ten feet, I think it very doubtful whether I would do it or not. But no use talking, it can't be did here. You ask about Ashbel Andrews, I can say that Ashbel Andrews was really the best boy in this Co. He never was on the sick list, he never missed a guard duty, he never missed a march, he never missed a fight. He was lively, good company, always did his full share in the mess, was liked by every man in the company, was as brave as a lion, and never grumbled, and that is the very best trait a soldier can have. A grumbling soldier is a poor mean thing. You ask if he was a good boy, I suppose you want to know if he was good enough to be saved. That is a hard question to answer. I am a poor judge of Christians. If it has to be talked about all the time and talk to others about God and Christ, and telling them to
©2006 C.S. Parkinson