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Burns Plantation, Mon. October 25th, 1862
Dear Minnie,
I have thought of writing to you for some time and have still put it off hoping to hear from you first. You folks at home don't seem to care very much about writing to me. I have now been away nearly two months and have just rec. two letters from home, both from Anna. The greatest pleasure we soldiers have (and we have very fun) [JBV wording] is in reading letters from home. But as you don't seem disposed to break the tie I have taken up the pen to give you a little scolding and then write you a letter. I have very little news of interest to write you, we are still at Parkton (that is, Headquarters is here) and the different Co's. are scattered up and down the RR guarding. Co. H is still at their old barracks at Burns Station and I am still at my old station in the Hospital. I am almost well now, was out drilling a little while yesterday, I am not very strong yet and my cough troubles me a little yet, but I am improving as fast as could be expected. Andrew
Carothers is improving quite fast, he has got to be able to be up most of the day and is gaining strength rapidly. The rest of the Frankfort boys are all well and in good spirits.
We are getting along very well in our drill and will soon be ready to do our duty on the battlefield. The 140th is a splendid Regt. And I think when we come into a fight we will be able to give a good account of ourselves. If we don't I never want to live to be disgraced.
We have all our Regimental Officers elected now, although some of them are not made public yet. I believe Ormond is Elected Chaplain, Rev Boyle is our Capt. He is a pretty fine fellow, the boys like him very well, but we were badly sold, there is a very bitter feeling in our Co. and in the whole Regt. against Ormond, I think that he had much better stay at home,(he has gone back on a visit) his usefulness is totally destroyed, I was not much deceived in him. I had a very poor opinion of him while we were in Beaver and it has not improved any since. It's rather hard to deceive me about a man now, I have seen too many of them and have studied human nature too closely to be deceived very much by outward appearances. It's strange how selfish some men become wherever they think they have a little power, but I must quit writing about Ormand to you or I'll be getting out of temper.
Are you going to school this fall? I'd like you to go as much as you can and learn as fast as you can, try Minnie, and be a good scholar and a good girl, you can never be useful and loved and esteemed without you are good. Another thing, let your goodness begin at home, be kind and dutiful to Mother and loving to your Brother and Sisters. You have but one brother at home now and I want you to do all you can to make his life at home pleasant and happy. We don't know what hour the Gov't. will need his services on the battlefield and if he should be called out and fall in this deadly strife it would embitter many of your future hours to think you had made his last days at home unhappy. Be a good girl Minnie for my sake and your own. If you do God will bless you in this world and make you happy in the next.
I want you to write to me and tell me how you are all getting along. What Rob is doing on the farm, how many bushels of wheat we had, whether he has bought or sold any stock and tell me the news in general. We have not drawn any money yet, I need some now very badly, we will not be paid off till the last of the month, or the first of the next, perhaps not then. The Gov't. owes me nearly two months wages. I get 17 dollars per month and 37 dollars bounty. I want you to knit me a pair of warm mittens and send them here if you have time. Tell Rob, if he has money, to send me some P.O. stamps, I only have two now.
Is aunt Eliza coming to live with mother? Mr. Shields told me a few days ago that she was.
I had a letter from Alex day before yesterday, he was at Pt. Lookout, his letter was dated September 26th. If he comes up to Washington this winter I think we'll get to see eachother.
Give my warmest love to all the family and friends, and believe me Ever your loving brother,
JB Vance