KP2025.001.032

No 19
From 3 to 5 miles below King Georges Court House Va on picket duty, Feb 16th 1863
Dear Brother & Sister
Yours No. 17th was received the 14th and it was as welcome a letter I think as I ever got. I am glad you have started that box and that it is so well filled. I am sorry to hear that you have colds but tis not to be wondered at being in so cold a climate. Here it is warm and seems like spring. Yesterday I heard a frog croak in a pond as we passed. Our Regt. left camp yesterday and marched to where we are about 20 miles to relieve the 8th Illinois Cavalry who have been on picket here for 8 weeks, the line extends from the Potomac to the Rhappahannock [Rappahannock] about 12 miles tis called. We don’t know how long we will stay here but I think a spell or two and have got to forage for man & beast and I’ll write in a few days how we fare. Joseph is a bed, Nelson Washburn is pulling off his boots to go to bed but I am going to get this ready to send to Camp in the morn. Our Co. have not been on duty to day or only 5 of them. About Daniel Brown, I am very sorry that such a story is in circulation about him for it is false, he is perfectly free from any disease whatever but he has got ruptured or what appears to be one. Who started the story or where did it come from? If the box is received he shall share as requested. he does not do so much duty as some for it hurts him to lift or ride and I think he will yet get his discharge. You need not send taller candles down here for Uncle furnishes us Sperm candles, but I did not bring any from camp yesterday so I have to write by fire light this eve and when the fire gets down I don’t keep the line. You want to know how I like pencil mark. I could read it just as well as Ink. We expect the other Co. from Alexandria every day. I wish you could see the fine woods we are camped in to night. I’ll describe a little. The trees all pine stand very thick, as many as 4 on every rod from 6 in to 16 in through and 60 & 70 feet to green limbs. They hold their size well up. Dry limbs and knots all the way up from near the ground to the green ones and a few Cedar and small pine bushes and Laurel bushes. Lots of princes pine and One berry vines and some berries but I have not seen any Winter Greens in Va. This is the greatest country for camping out for there is so much dry limbs and knots in the woods to make a fire of. Wm. tis as you say anything is interesting from home & you can’t write too much about horses either. Have you sold your horse you say you have none but never have written as you had sold him. Those packages you sent by mail I have not yet got but I guess they will come around yet. Joseph got 2 letters to day one was 2 weeks coming the other one week. I am well and Joseph says he never saw me look so tough. I am glad the colts are doing so well. Wm. if I was there I think I would have one good sleigh ride but here I have to ride on horse back and its not a hard way of riding either.
Please give my thanks to the contributors to the contents of that box, for it does a Soldiers soul good to know that friends at home are mindful of him and nothing makes us feel better than to get letters often. This is the best looking country down here that I’ve seen in old Va. It’s not so rough and a little stronger soil. The niggers are pretty plenty down here and some more white people. Have you a map that shows the location of King Georges Court House. There is a grist mill 3 miles from here and we are to have 40 bush. of flour that the Capt. of the 8th Ill. turned over to one of our Captains. We have it next Thursday and we can get it baked at some of the houses here then that butter will go good if we get it. I hear that our Regt. have confiscated 9 head of cattle today but it has to be done according to rule. I don’t care how if we only get what we need to make us comfortable. Write often even if I don’t. This line of picket is the outpost as outermost line. There is a line of Infantry a few miles in from us. Here there is 3 men stands on a post for 24 hours and one of the 3 has to keep watch while there other 2 stop and look. They build up a fire but don’t unsaddle but are dismounted all of the time & a Corporal rides along the line from one post to the other to see that alls right. I put a blue [pill?] in my carbine at night and I keep 6 in my pistol all the time.
K. Pearsons
To Wm. & Harriet
[upside down previous page] Go & see Cousin Marcus if he don’t come there & he will tell you a great deal. He stayed with me one night and I rode with him one day.

KP2025.001.033

Near King Georges Ct. House
Feb 18th 1863
Dear Cousin
Your letter was received the 7th of Feb. and I’ll now attempt to reply to your questions. You ask me how I like a soldiers life; better than I expected to before I knew what it was. I fare much better than I anticipated, and am contented as any of the boys. Some are homesick and tired of the business and I don’t think there is many soldiers in the Army but what would choose to be at home with their friends if the thing could be settled, but as long as they rebels are in arms against our government the Soldiers will stay and do their best to maintain it and let the comforts of home go. As for the Union Soldiers being more tired of the war than the rebs are, I think it can’t be, and to take their own word for it they are tired of it; Our boys have talked with them across the Rhappahannock [Rappahannock] when on picket and they own they are tired, and they say they have got all the men they can and so they have where I have been for there is no young or middle aged men left. As for our ever conquering them I cannot say but I know they are very destitute of some of the necessaries of life and everything they do buy is awful high. It seems as though they must or would have to give up after a while; but as to our fighting them as we did at Fredericksburgh [Fredericksburg] behind fortifications and our forces sheltered only where they could catch it behind a hill or knoll or in a ditch, and the enemy on the highest ground the whole line of battle, I don’t think much of it. You ask how near I was to the fighting, and if I have seen the battlefield. I was on the battlefield and slept 3 nights in front of the stone house that was Gen Franklins head quarters which was on the battlefield and where Gen. Bayard was killed. He was Brigadier Gen. & had command of the Brigade that our Regt was in. I was not up in front when the musketry fighting was going on, but part of the time I was where those messengers from hell came whizzing through the air full as often as I cared about hearing them (some call them shells) the nearest I came to being hit was to have a shell strike within a rod of me at 3 different times shells came within a rod, but there was about half my company that had narrow escapes. They had to ride along the lines with some Gen. Col. or Staff Officer and frequently be sent alone with despatches [dispatches] & several of the boys just escaped a batch of shell. I think I have seen the battlefield and when Cousin Marcus was here we rode on this side of the river nearly the whole length of the battlefield and if you will come down here I’ll show you the Elephant. I saw a good many wounded, but no dead & I saw some rebel prisoners at the time of the battle. Dan Brown is with the company and the same direction will reach him that will me. He has been looking for a letter from you. A man that was in favor when he was at home of freeing the slaves if twould help to put down the rebellion is of the same mind & vice versa.
Thursday morn. the 19th
Our Regt. is on picket duty here a few miles below King Geo. Court House. We are the outer picket line. Our line is 12 miles long from the Potomac to the Rhappahannock [Rappahannock]. We have just been having 4 days of storm first rain then snow for 6 in. and then rain till the snow is nearly gone. I am well and hearty. Joseph is not very well just now. Joseph Warner has got a fever. Nelson Washburn is well and fat. Dan Brown has a rupture or something like it which makes him unfit for duty but he is well otherwise. We left him in camp. I had not tasted milk since I came in Va. til this week. We buy it of the citizens here at 10 cts per qt. Apple pies 25 cts each eggs 20 & 25 cts pr Doz. and we have bought a little bread but that is awful high for flour is $18.00 per bbl here. Uncle Sam furnishes victuals enough but we like a change. I traded my coffee for biscuits yesterday. We or the Officers, or it is done under the charge of an officer, foray here for our horses, and the men. I eat confiscated beef yesterday and we are to have flour though is at a mill 40 bush for about 8 c one squadron. You can’t write too often to suit me.
From K. Pearsons
To Joshua Allen
[upside down] Direct to Co. L. 10th Regt. N.Y.S.V. Cav. Gregg’s Cav. Div. Washington D.C.
[envelope]
Mr Joshua Allen
Gowanda Catt. Co.
N.Y.
[envelope reverse]
Near Kings Georges Va.
Feb 18 1863

KP2025.001.034

No 20
On picket near King Georges Ct. House, Va
Feb. 25th 1863.
Dear Brother & Sister
I am enjoying good health and having an easy time while down here. I am acting as Quartermaster for our Co. while here, and don’t have to stand on post. Nelson Washburn, Joe & I have built us a log hut and live first rate. Some of our Co. go out foraging every day for corn and Oats and flour. We have all our horses can eat here & we have all the flour and beef we want. I have helped kill 2 cattle in a week & I’ve got to down another tomorrow. Eugene Colburn came from camp here yesterday and brought Joe & I what you sent by Bela Dexter & I am now writing with one of the pencils you sent and my paper lays on the oyster can you sent. It makes a good table. The best I’ve ever had in Va. I guess that paper, envelopes & night cap you sent by mail has gone to grass, for I’ve not got it, but it may come around after awhile. We have had no mail here for nearly a week but we expect one to day. Greggs Cav. Division has lately been Brigaded the 1st Maine, 2nd New York & 10th N.Y. compose Gen. Judson Killpatricks [Kilpatrick’s] Brigade (the 2nd N.Y. is called Harris Light) & I think the 1st New Jersey 1st Penn. and I don’t know what other Regt is in the other Brigade and I have not heard who is the commandant of it either. Bela Dexter was sick again after he got to Elmira N.Y. and came no farther. Clark is yet in a Hospital 15 miles from Camp Bayard. I hear he is gaining but not able to walk. Joseph Warner too, is in the Hospital at Camp Bayard. He has got a fever. Co. B lost 2 men a few days ago. They either skedaddled or were taken prisoners & 2 men were sent to look for them but did not find them but found 2 Rebel Soldiers who had come across the Rhappahannock [Rappahannock] to see their friends & were returning. They were afoot but belonged to Stuarts Cavalry. Our boys took them prisoners. I’ll wait till afternoon and see if I get a letter to answer. We have got snow on the ground here but it can’t stay long the days are so warm, but it freezes hard nights. I have not heard as our hay has come yet.
Friday morn the 27th
We have had no mail yet, and no chance to send any back to camp since I commenced this yesterday. We had an awful hard rain which took off the snow last night and to day its very warm. We are expecting to be relieved to day and go back to camp tomorrow. Those wristlets are just a fit but its getting so warm I shan’t need them much. We hear a rumor that there has been 150 pack mules ordered for our Regt. If that is so we are to march for Texas or North Carolina either of which I am ready to start for but shall miss my letters from home as cannot get them as often as I can here in Va. There is lots of Darkies here and lots of them have skedaddled from their Masters. This country is the best one I’ve been in in the state. Quite thickly settled and the most level and best soil. They raise Corn Tobacco, wheat & oats. Don’t keep but a few cattle or sheep but more hogs than the Catt. Indians keep; the boys and men whats left all wear grey clothing home made. That other Co. M came to camp when Eugene came. James Matthews is 2nd lieutenant Co. M.
K. Pearsons
[sideways first page] Read this. Joe has pulled out one of my whiskers & I’ve enclosed it in this letter. Attention! look inside this sheet for that whisker.
[envelope]
Mr. Wm. H. Press
Gowanda Catt Co
N.Y.