p.

think so much of him as nurse that they will do anything rather than
lose him. I hardly know what to write you for news. The
Army of the Potomac seems to be inactive now and will
probably do nothing this fall. All of the troops will not go into
winter quarters, but some of them must stay here to
act as guard. I think the government will act against
the gulf states this Winter, and troops I presume will be
withdrawn for that purpose. Our fighting in the South must
be done in the Winter and by proper management a bloody
battle at Manassas can be avoided, and the same object
attained. We may never see a battle. I hope we never
may, but I am willing to accept any fortune that will be
for my country's good. Our Vermont troops are quite
sickly the most so of any in the whole Army. It is sad
to see our comrades sicken and die. Hardly a day passes
but that some one dies. Two have died out of our com-
pany. A soldier's funeral is [truly?] solemn. Willie and I
went to Washington last Tuesday. I presume he has giv-
en you a glowing account of what we saw etc. I have not
time to do so. We had some picutres taken and will
visit you shortly by proxy. I might write more but I
dare say this is all the room I can have. I wish you
would drop me a line. I will write to Mary soon.
Willie's letters home are so full that I shall have to
write on my own hook. Regards to all.

Henry.