Kimball Pearsons, On Picket between King Georges
Courthouse and the Rappahannock, April 6-8, 1863

Monday Morning April 6th [1863]
Well I am here on picket yet & had no chance yesterday to send my letter to camp but today the Mule train is coming down with forage & I can send this back by them. I guess you’ll think it’s a long time since I’ve sent you a letter & I think it’s a long time since Wm. has written any. Don’t backslide Brother but press on in the good & glorious way that you was in of corresponding often with your brother Soldier, & while I think of it I’ll ask you both to write often to Joseph for he has had letters from Melissa very often & if some one don’t write to him he will see a lonesome time; he will see a lonesome time anyway, but letters from friends will be worth every thing to him in this time of affliction. I know how to sympathize with him & shall do what I can to make him contented.
We have just had an accident here. Lieut. Boyd of Co. I got shot through his back or hips not dangerous. A pistol lay up a couple feet from the ground and got knocked down and went off & shot him. Twas in a tent. If I could see Joseph I would have enough to write about but its rather dull times for me to write to day. I am glad you sent some Banners. They will get read pretty thoroughly. Since I’ve been down here all I’ve had to read has been the letter that Joseph brought. Lieut. James Matthews went from here to camp & returned yesterday. He says Joseph is well as he was when he went home. I was afraid he would be sick, for he had not been tough for several weeks. I am well as I ever was at home and shall try my best to continue in the same way. I suppose you would rather have this sheet written over if I have nothing to write than have it closed now. There is a great many Black birds here. They go in large flocks and make me think of Pigeons. There is Blue birds & Robins, Crows, Ravens & Turkey Buzzards. All of these are quite plenty. I don’t know as you ever saw a Raven or Turkey Buzzard. I’ll describe them. A Raven can only be distinguished from a Crow by making a different noise some like a young Crow, but sailing some like a Hawk & by a little wider tail. Turkey Buzzard is as large & looks very much like a Hen Turkey. They sail around like Hawks; there is a very few Gray Squirrals [Squirrels] & Coons here that’s all the quadrupeds I’ve seen in Va. Quails are quite plenty. Oh yes, rabbits are very thick in some places, & Colored people too. Wm. I wish I could get one of our revolvers home. They are a nice thing to shoot Woodchucks, Foxes, or Squirrels with. I can shoot pretty straight with them & then you see there is 6 loads & if one misses you can fire another in a second. We carry them all loaded & capped in a pouch on our belts the same belt that our Sabre [saber] is attached to. Our carbines are first rate good guns & will shoot a half mile but I like the Pistols better. May, the first Posies I find in the woods I will send to you & Ida, & if you & Ida send the first you find to me we can tell where they blossom first. We are camped in an Oak & Hickory wood this time & I found one soft Maple close to our tent & have had a Maple fire for several days. We build up a rousing big fire when we go to bed & it lasts all night. I am glad you sent those Stamps, but I had nearly as many on hand. I’ll let you know when I get most out of stamps or anything else that I want from home.
Yours Truly
Kimball Pearsons
[upside down first page] I hear at noon today that we are going to stay another 14 days here for the Army of the Potomac is moving, or rather that we are not going to be relieved now. I suppose if the Army makes an effectual crossing we will be the rear guard and will have to look out for bushwhackers &c.
[envelope]
Mr. Wm H. Press
Gowanda Catt.
N. Y.

No. 28
On picket between the Rappahannock & King Georges C. H. April 7th1863.
Dear Brother & Sister
I rec’d letters No. 24 dated the 20th & 21st Mar. last night. It had been missent here in the Army of the Potomac. If you did not send a rubber cord for my night cap by Joseph send one in a letter for it is so large it gets off my head every night & a rubber cord for two hats (throat patches). I wrote yesterday that we were not going to be relieved when our 10 days were up, but today we hear that we are going to be relieved tomorrow, & we heard also that the Army was on the move yesterday, but after that we heard that Uncle Abraham was at Falmouth reviewing the Army, or that the Army had a grand review and Uncle was there. There are so many false reports & rumors here all the while that I am bothered to know what to believe. Yesterday, soon after we heard the news that the Army was on the move we heard cannonading for a few minutes thick & fast & then we supposed the ball was surely opened again, but twas I suppose a Salute to the President. Our Brigade this time has been picketing on the river. I’ll write more after I get in Camp.
April 8th Camp Bayard
Here I am again in Camp. Got here after dark last night, found Joseph about sick to day. He was sick at his Stomach or was at noon so I am on camp guard to day. Last night I received a letter from home No. 25 was glad to get so long a letter. I hope you will have a good time at that Spiritual convention you are to have. I would like to be there but I don’t think I shall come just yet. You want to know what I am going to do about the farm, if I am not going to make a bargain. A spell ago Wm. wrote me that he would take care of my things & place till I returned. I replied that that was what I wanted; so if you want a bargain made or contract written then I do too, now what day or hour do you want the place. Please specify how you would like it and I’ll reply. Don’t ask me about selling milk but do as you think best about it. Wm. would it not be best to keep the grey heifer till into June or July and let her go for beef if she is not already gone. I don’t say do it but do as you think best. I am sorry my buck has keeled up, but I shant lay awake any on account of it for accidents & misfortune will happen in t he best of families as well as in ours. Now you have got some horses I suppose you would about as lives mine were sold after you get the Springs work done & I believe I had rather have them sold & pay my debts. Write me something about them in every letter. Do you think you can get $200.00 for them. We expect 4 months pay soon (but we are not sure of it till we get it) & then I will send enough home to pay Ross if he has not got the cattle yet, if you have not sold them & can get a better price by giving 6 months time you may do so. I am going to have some money of Joseph next pay day. Joseph & I want some more pepper & he says take his mill to grind it in for twill grind finer than yours. You can send a little at a time in a letter & not increase the Postage. If I ever get a chance I will get my likeness for you. Those Wintergreens were the first I’ve seen since I left home. That Jack Knife is just a fit & so is the Hat. I could not get time to finish this the 8th so I am finishing this the 9th. I am well & Joseph is better than he was yesterday. I hope he won’t be down sick. I shall do all I can to prevent it. Write to him and ask others to.
From your Soldier Brother
Kimball
To Wm. Harriett & the Girls
[Sidways first page] We too are having a cold Spring. A Darky yesterday remarked to me that the faster it came spring the colder it grew. Joseph had so much load that he did not bring the Apples you sent, but he brought some Chestnuts & walnut meats. Thank you little folks for sending them.
K.P
[envelope]
Mr. Wm H. Press
Gowanda Catt. co.
N.Y.
Mr Wm H Press Gowanda Co
[envelope reverse]
Between Rapahannock & King Georges
Apr 7 1863
#28