| 1863-04-08 | Paris, Kentucky |
| Paris, Bourbon County, Ky April 8th I863 Dear Parents Your most welcome letters of the 17th and 24 came to hand, the former night before last and the letter about 1/2 hour ago and you may be sure I was glad to hear from you. That box came just in time. We were packing to leave Newport News. I got it on board and its contents were very acceptible. That cake Ella spoke of I could not do as requested for our Col had left us for Washington a few days before to accept a Brigadiership and we have not seen him since but are looking for him everyday. We are now in the garden of the State of Kentucky. We are guarding against bands of guerillas and are stationed about 1/2 hr from Paris, the county seat of Bourbon County, on the fair ground. This state, as far as I have seen, is the most beautiful State in the Union. Union I say for she has never seceeded though she has furnished quite as many troops to protect them. We could not be treated better were we at home in our own state and the country is so beautiful I wish you could sell your home for enough to buy here with but that is no easy job for land here is worth from $100.00 to $200.00 per acre. Camp Dick Robison April I3 I863 Dear Parents This pleasant afternoon finds me writing to you. I have had but two letters from home since we left Va. but I presume you have written more than that but our mails are very irregular. We are moving around so much it is difficult to keep track of us. When I last wrote you we were in Paris but we were not permitted to remain in such a pleasant place as that but a few days we left Paris on the 10th and arrived at our present place of encampment. On the following day we came on the cars as far as Nickelosville and marched the rest of the way some 14 1/2 mi. The roads were so dusty at times we could hardly see our breath. This is the first camp formed in the State and I am told situtated about 14 mi from the Great Mammoth Cave. I should like to visit but that is out of the question under present circumstances but if I were free and only that distance I should surely go to see that great wonder of the world but the drum is rolling for dress parade and I must stop writing for the present but will finish this evening if possible. Well dress parade and supper are both over and here I am again. We do not get as good fare as we did at Paris but I have some of the butter left that I got with the box. The makes our hard tack more palatable than when dry. We lived well at Paris and money went free. I spent more than I shall in the next 3 months. I sent you a $10.00 dollar bill in my last letter. If you get that I will send some more when I hear from that. We could not have been treated better if we had been at home in our own state that we were at Paris. The people all wanted us to stay but we could not. Our Col. now General Welch has returned and has command of this post and our Brigade. I don't think we shall remain here long, perhaps not longer than 4 or 5 days. Everything is uncertain with us. I do not know that I have anything more to write about that will interest you. There is nothing new going on down here. Please excuse all mistakes and write as often as convenient to your ever Affectionate Son. J .D. Strait Direct to Co I 45th Regt Pa Vol 3rd Brigade 1st division 9th A C Ky via Cincinnati | |