KP2025.001.075

No. 52
Army of the Potomac
Hd Qts 10th N.Y.V. Cav.
near Rapidan Sept. 23d 1863.
Dear Brother Sister & Children two
I have the honor to inform you that I have received No. 47 & 48 from home. The first one containing another account & the last one notifying me that my box was started by express for me and also that Wm. was lapping down tomatoe [tomato] toast. All of which I am glad to hear, and I am happy to inform you that I am well and in a healthy place at present, but as onward is the Mottoe [motto] of this Army I can expect to move from here in a short time. Since last wrote you the whole Army has moved but not much but the cavalry has had any fighting to do. Our regt have not been up with the Brigade until last night. A part of them were detached as I had written before to go after horses to Washington, and the rest had 2 or 3 horses to take care of so we were not in a fighting condition when the move was made but now we are together again & in fighting trim but when we will be called upon again to meet the rebels I don’t know. Harriett you want to know the dark side of the picture. You say I don’t tell only the best side. The reason is we don’t have any dark side. We came here for the good of our Country and whatever fate befalls us we cheerfully accept it without a murmur. We get enough to eat but we are exposed to the weather. I might tell you of our march from near Warrenton Junction to near Culpeper. It was last Friday I think. We were encamped in a piece of woods near the R.R. & the detachment that had charge of the new horses were on the opposite side of the R.R. We were called up at 3 in the morn packed up and started about sunrise. It commenced raining before light and rained hard all the forenoon and when we got near the river I never saw it rain harder and the wind blew like fun. We crossed on pontoons and when about 4 miles from the river we had to stop on account of a little stream being so high that we would have to swim our horses. I had a good rubber blanket on and kept my body nearly dry but one boot got full of water which rained through my pants. this was the hardest rain I ever marched in but I lived through it and the next morning 150 of our regt (15 of our company myself included) started at sunrise back to Catlett’s Station to guard a herd of cattle through. I had to draw 3 days rations and issue to our company so that I had no time to eat my breakfast before we started and about 11 oclock when I got devilish hungry I ate 3 hardtacks and a slice of raw pork. We got to Catlett’s Station about 2 P.M. about 20 miles march. Here we stopped in the woods and immediately got orders to unsaddle which we did then I cooked some breakfast and eat my supper. Well, in the morning we drew 3 days rations again which was soft bread, beans, pork, sugar, tea, peeper, salt & soap and about 4 oclock the cattle came along so we started back came 6 miles and stopped for the night then started at sunrise again and got back to Culpeper at 3 P.M. then yesterday we came here and I am all right and sound. Joseph is with me and tough as some of our hardtack that we get. Have bugs & worms in them which answers for seasoning; now if you can glean anything from this that looks like the dark side of the picture, then all right, but if you cannot I won’t write the dark side. The last time we crossed the river we forded twas up to our horses breasts but feel dry.
Kimball
[envelope]
Mr. Wm. H. Press
Gowanda, Catt. Co.
N.Y.

KP2025.001.076

Near the Rapidan Va. Sept 24th /63
Dear Sister
Your letter was received last Monday and this morning is the first chance I have had to reply and now I am in the same fix that you were in which is “nothing to write that will interest you” at least it seems so to me but I shall try and fill this sheet with something. Our regt has not been engaged in the late skirmishing or battles from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan, we have been guarding a drove of beef cattle from Washington to the army and getting new horses for our Brigade, but yesterday we joined our Brigade again & when there is another fight we will stand a chance to have a hand in. Tomorrow our regt are to go on picket then we will have a chance to see the grey backs again I suppose. While coming from Culpepper [Culpeper] here we passed the 44th N.Y. regt. I saw one of Co. A. He told me that Erastus had gone to Washington to be examined for a Commission in a Colored regt. I hope he will succeed and get his commission. I know he is worthy of it but it seems to me that if he could get a promotion in his own regt twould have been better. But I suppose there was no vacancy there. You want to know what my horses name is before I have got a name for him, and so I will ask you to send him a name. Does Ed keep the same team yet that he had when I left there. I have been about sick a few days and wrote to some one but when I wrote to you I was well. So it was not a mistake after all. This move of our army was very unexpected to me and I guess to all but now I look for another move across the Rapidan. There is nothing that I would like better than some of those potatoes, we don’t get vegetables enough here. You speak of our pork running around, I think you must meant our hardtacks for they are buggy and grubby sometimes but our pork never is, I eat pork because I am obliged to. If I ever get out of this I think I can find enough that will suit me better but I can get along very well while here with Uncles rations and what I can pick up in the country. Killpatrick [Kilpatrick] returned yesterday from across the Rapidan where he had been to tear up the R.R. between Richmond & Gordonsville, what success he had I have not yet heard. Its getting to be cool nights down here to sleep out doors but as long as it is pleasant we can get along first rate well, but when we get wet through in a rain storm and have to sleep with our wet clothes on its rather tough, that is if a fellow is a mind to think so but there is no use fretting about it just takes things as they come and make the best of it. We are expecting two months pay soon, may be this afternoon. The Paymaster is now paying the 16th Pa regt who are encamped across the road from us. Give my respects to the [boy?] and write soon to your Cavalry Brother.
From
Corporal K. Pearsons
To
L. P. Harris