Camp near Loudon Heights 

Dear Cousin Henry

I think I will pen you these few lines, not knowing wether I answered your kind letter of December 13th or not, I have been nocked about so much for the last two months passed. The regiment left Brandys Station on the eve of December 31st, and I tell you we had a lively time getting from the camp to the Depot. We did not hear any thmg about moving until 10 O’clock P.M. when we got orders to Pack up and hold ourselves in reddiness to move at a moments notice. It was New Years eve and all the boys had thare Kegs pretty full of commissary whiskey. I was, as usual in those cases, officer of the Guard. At 1OY2 O’clock we got orders to strike tents, and at 11 we was in line. I had to take my Guard out of the ranks and hurry the boys out of the camp, for some was so dam drunk that thay was unable to move. After the Regt left I went to the Sutlers and got a drink, and fell my guard in and left for the station. Such falling in the mud you never saw in your life. It was as dark as damnation and the mud was up . . . and the road was as ruff and crooked as they could make it . . . I fell 5 times before I got to the station. So you can judge how I looked. After we got to the Depot we had to lay around until daylight on the morning of the First, when we took the cars for Alexander. We got in Alexander at 3 O’clock P.M. and layed there for one hour, then started for Washington, which place we reached by 4 O’clock. Such looking soldiers you never saw. . . nothing but mud from head to foot. We stayed in Washington all night and in the morning we took the cars about 9 O’clock for Harpers ferry. So you see, we was chainged from the Army of the Potomac to the Army of Western Va in 2 days. Last Sunday morning at half past Four A.M. we had a visit on Loudon heights by Digabreere Genl. Moseby & his fighting men. But . . . he did not know he had the 8th Corps, or the 3d Brig. of the 3d Division to contend with. He did not get in the camp of the 62d N. Y. Vols but he got within gun shot of it, and after Y2 hour fighting he sung out, Boys retreat, they are too much for us. So what could get off went, we got 5 dead, 4 wounded and 3 prisoners of them. I go in for stringing them up a tree, but the General in command (Wheaton) cant see it . . . I hope to be on the Island before short, for I have Reenlisted for 3 years more. I have not got enough of sojering yet. I have Reenlisted in my own Company. I could have come home as a Substitute, but I did not see it in that light.

Now I will close until I see you 

Give my love to all From yours etc. Lieut. Abram T. Perine

62d N.Y.S.V. West Virginia.

P.S. I expect to be home inside of 2 weeks, so look out for breakers. 

Kerr, M. (1955) In love and friendship. 

The letters of Abraham T. Perine, ensign of the Anderson Zouaves. 

Contributed by J. Tierney

Note: Abraham T. Perine died on the June 11, 1864. One would assume it was at the Battle of Cold Harbor but what the cause of his death was is unclear. He is buried at City Point National Cemetery, VA, plot D 64 – J. Tierney