Palmer B. Holdridge Civil War Letter #7: [Leaving Camp Belger]

NOTE: Disclaimer and explanation of formatting included at the end of this post.

Dear Kate,
     We have just received orders to
leave Camp Belger tomorrow and go to
the city to guard one of the city hospitals
So I thought I would write you a few
lines and inform you of the fact I
have not received an letter from you
since I last wrote but am looking for
one every day. I received one yesterday
from Dan and one from John Graves and
two or three days since one from John
Holdrige and his wife. They said they
had written to you. I have not received
any letter from Dillazon and have given
up ever hearing from him again.
     Williams received a box of provisions
and medicine from his folks yesterday.
He invited me to take ten with him to-
night and ? ? suppose of bread
and butter and cheese. If I find a good
place to keep things where we are going
perhaps I shall send for some cheese? I
[page break]
could buy it here for 30 cts. per pound,
but I don’t think that would pay as the
transportation would probably not be
more than a cent a pound. But I
will let you know when I want you
to send it. We have got our tent fixed
up nicely and rather dislike to leave it,
but the nights are getting pretty cold
and if we can sleep in a building it will
probably be warmer than sleeping in tents.
I have no war news to write as there is but
little fighting going on at present. But
you may look for exciting news before long
from Gen. McClellan’s army as he has an
immense army under him now and is
making preparations to advance upon
the rebels. If he is not interfered with this
time I think he will make sad haroe
among them when he gets at them again.
One of the boys of the 157 (Madison County reg)
wrote to one of our boys that Col. Brown had
paid a visit to Old Abe and that he was
assured by him that he would guarantee
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that the war would close by next Spring.
The same impressions prevail here, but of
course none knows. There was a man on
the ground today selling pictures. The two
I have sent you aroused my feelings
somewhat and I thought they would
suit you so well I could not help buying
them. Ain’t they splendid? I know you will
like them. They only cost 25 cts.
     But it is nearly nine o’clock the ?
will soon be sounded which is the signal
for extinguishing all the lights in camp
so I must close this letter, role up in my
blanket and go to dreaming. Dreaming
of loved ones left behind, of home, and happiness;
dreams perhaps never to be realized, but none-
theless sweet and consoling. But my mind
reverts unconsciously to the impressions
conveyed by those pictures. Let us be cheerful
and hope for the best. Don’t think I’m homesick.
I’m not a whit troubled with it and shall
never allow myself to be as long as I am
well. But of course I would give considerably?
[page break]
to ? you all I will write agane soon
and tell you about our new home.
Direct as here-tofore and I shall get your
letters. Yours affectionately,
     P.B. Holdridge
***(Enclosed a dozen kisses
     for Freddie)***

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Explanation of formatting:
Effort is made to keep much of the spelling, line breaks, and page breaks preserved as shown in the original letter book on file with the William L. Clements Library. Some names of third parties and other select data sets are considered, with footnotes added. A question mark (?) will often indicate a word or letter that was not clear. It may be used to replace the word or letter. Other times it may show on the end of a word, if the transcriber was unclear about that specific word, but chose to transcribe it.

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