Item description: Letter, dated 18 April 1864, from James Augustus Graham to his mother. He describes camp life around Orange Court House, Virginia, specifically the availability of food and the frequency of packages deliveries.
[transcription available below images]
Item citation: From folder 3 in the James A. Graham Papers, #283, Southern Historical Collection, the Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Item transcription:
Camp 27th N.C. Infy.
April 18th 1864
My dear Mother,
I received your very welcome letter of 7th inst last Friday. I expected a box by Walter Thompson; but when it did not come, I con-cluded that you did not know the time of his starting or you would have sent it and made myself contented. We get along pretty well now with regard to something to eat, about as well as we did when we were allowed to purchase from the commissary, for we draw sugar, coffee, and molasses and we were not allowed to purchase them. We are allowed 4 cooks to each company and I draw rations for Alex as one of these cooks. We draw now meal, bacon, coffee, sugar, and molasses and get a plenty of all except meat. We get only 1/4 lb of meat per day, but I expect will get more in a short while. We can buy peas and other things of that sort from the sutler and in that way make out very well. You wished to know if it was true that Thompson lost a good many of his boxes when he came up in February. I do not know as I was at home at that time. He lost none this time and only one when he came at Christmas.
I understood that Mr. Troy will start Jim Salisbury on the 28th and you might send me a small box by him. It would not do to send much for we may be on the march by that time. A ham, a little hominy etc. would suit very nice.
I wish you would send my shoes by Tom Whitted. He will start about the 27th or 28th. Also please send one 1/2 doz white collars as I will need some white collars wen I get the position on Gen. Cooke’s staff as Inspector.
I sent a coat and and pr of boots home in a box by Walter Thompson.
We still have preaching every night and a good many are being converted. Twenty two have joined the Baptist church. They were baptized by Mr. Howerton Chaplain of the 15th North Carolina Regt yesterday evening.
I must close as Webb is waiting for my letter. Love to all
Write soon to
Your affectionate son
James A. Graham
