1862-04-27Stony House, SC
Stony House, SC

Apr 27th 1862

Dear Parents

Sabbath evening finds me engaged in writing to you. We have not rec'd our mail as usual this past week consequently I have not rec'd any letter from home since I wrote to you but I thought it would not do to let the day pass without writing though I have no news to write. We have been called out on false alarm once since I wrote you last and were out all night but it did not amount to anything at all. Next Wednesday is the day we are to be mustered for our next pay but how long before we shall get it is uncertain. I hardly know what to write as there is nothing new to write about, so it will take less time to write what I do write. I have just attended meeting and we had a very good meeting. There is two ministers stopping at this plantation, both agents for the government. They seem to be very good men. I am now at the Co quarters. I came down about a week ago after staying on picket some 3 months and I tell you a good nights sleep comes good after being up every night more or less for three months. We have no late war news of any kind and know nothing of what is going on in other parts but I hope they are doing more in other places than here for we are lying idle, though I do not know but what we do as much good as if we were in the field for guard duty has to be by somebody and it might as well be us as anybody else. We are all well at present, though not quite as fleshy as a short time ago. The weather is getting quite warm down here. I don't see any prospects of our going North this summer nor any prospects of its ending very soon but I hope it will close ere the summer is ended, for I would like to get home sometime this summer to see the old hills again though I would not care if they were leveled down a little but I must bid you good night again. Write soon. So good by.

From your Affectionate Son.

J .D. Strait