Corporal Titus Moss Letters - Cheshire Historical Society

Corporal Titus Moss Letters, September 1862 – March 1863 Page 57
Letter Number 30 written by Titus Moss on 2 January 1863
Near Fairfax Station Jan 2, 1863
My Dear Carrie
I am on guard duty today and shall try to write a few lines to you
when I have leasure though am likely to be broke en off at any
moment. It was quite a frosty night last night but the sun is shining
beautifully this morning. We staid in our new house last night and
it does seem good to have a shelter that one can stand erect in and
have a place to sit. Our bunks are on each side one at convenient
hight to sit on and wide enough for two to sleep on. The others the
same width and one above the other. A space about 4 feet wide in
center and small fire place to corispend with the cabin for size. It
draws well does not smoke a bit. This last quality we especially
know how to prize after being smoked for weeks. A good share of
credit is due Frank for his skill and ingenuity in the arrangement of
our cabin. The bunks are
2. small poles placed close together and covered with old grass. I
could not think of any thing but the children of Israel scattered
over the land of E to gather stuble in place of straw. We think the
poles much healthier than the ground to lye on. I do not think that I
have had as much as a board to keep me from the ground since we
left New Haven til last night. I am afraind we shall loose a good
many men before Spring from exposure as I never saw men with
such coalds before as some in our Reg’t have. Frank, Samuel, and
myself have great reason for being thankful that ouy health has
been generally good since we left home we have had no very bad
coalds. When we stopt here I supposed it was only for the night
and was ready in the morning to march but our camp seems more
like home (I mean like the home we have had for the last four
months) than it did at first. The water is bad here and we have to
bring wood a long way on our shoulders.
We shall not use half as much mow as we did when our fire was
out doors. Edward Benham is acting as nurse in the hospital and
thinks from a word or
3. two he heard from the surgeon that we shall not be here many
days. I am not particular which was we go if it tends to be close to
the war in as short a time as possible and in a judicious manner. I
have been somewhat discouraged of late but hope again brightens
and I firmly believe that in three or four months something very
favorable for us will turn up. No more to night. I have had six or
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April 2005