Fort Ramsey Va. March 6th 1863.

Dr. H. E. Weston!

With great pleasure I sit down to write to you a few lines in hope that you are in good health, & happy, joyfuly surrounding by all your household in giving Mrs. Weston great comfort.

I wrote a letter to Miss Deborah a good while ago, but having got no return of answer yet. I hope she is well ---.

Well Sir! I suppose when a person gets a letter from a soldier, he will expect some news of fighting or having deeds. This of course I would be very glad if I could do so, in giving you such statements, but as you and we all know the Winter season which prevent all active movements here, so you will excuse one for not writing from Richmond out.

Last month of February was very severe to us true country defenders here at the Potomac. Every thing was shut and closed up before us. We had snow storms continuelly twenty four hours, covering the ground generally from seven to ten inch deep, following by rain untill the snow was all melt to water. Then we would get fine and beautiful days untill an other snow storm made its appearance and covering the ground again up to a foot. So did it change all the time during the month so that we had to be idle in doing nothing so to take care of our horses and ourselves in spending the time in the tent and looking in the fire place, talking storys and thinking when and how the war would come to a close.

So you may see that we had disagreeable weather and that we had to be very careful not to get sick, but for after all we took comfort by the Winter season! And indeed I called a pleasure to see snow on the ground, and seeing the men snow-balling each other.

It is also a pleasure for one to work in the snow, which reminds me at Weymouth when I was shoveling snow from the barn to the gate, and to the brook, which I done with pleasure in spending the time with you.

I feel good after having been shut up for twenty four hours, turning out in the morning early by a bright clear beautiful sun shining day glaring over the snow like silver. No wind when everything is still, once a while hearing a bird peep, a crow flying by --- The sentry walking on his beat, wraped in his blanket like the Army of Napoleon at Mosion[?].

With such sentiments I then go to work to wash myselves in ice cold water, taking my hot coffee with a piece of bread for my breakfast, go then out in detail. My cannoneers to go to work with me in the fort, to clean the piece of from snow, and to sweep the platform so as to have every thing in good order. By this time the camp or the park as we Artillery men call it is quite lovely. The drivers are busyly engaged in tenting their horses and to clean of the snow from the tops of the stables so as to make the horses as comfortable as possible.

Well for to day is the 6th of March, we have no longer yet about Spring or Summer, it is very cold & storming to day.

I suppose you heard of our new commander of the battery, Captain John Bigelow of Brighton Mass. He has taken command the 1st of the month. He is a fine looking gentleman and indeed a --- soldier --- The men got to obey. So far there have been every day some men on the barrel for punishment. --- He is no de Vecchi -- No Sir! He puts the men through which need to be done very much in this battery for they had to much liberty, with or by Capt. de Vecchi. He was to good for them all and that is the reason that they did not like them, but now they say -- O[h] I wish we had our old Captain back again -- had I knew before so. --- I give you a short account of our daily work since John made his appearance.

Bugle Call 6 A. M., Assemble 6.10, Reveille 6.15, Stable Call 6.20, Breakfast 7, Fatigue 7.30, Bugle Call 7.50, Assemble Roll & Water Call 8, Bugle Call 9.20, Drill Call 9.30, Recall from Drill 11, Bugle Call 11.20, Assemble Roll & Stable Call 11.30, Dinner 12, Bugle Call 1.30 P.M., Boots & Saddle 1.30, Recall from Drill 3.20, Bugle Call 4.20, Assemble Roll & Stable Call 4.30, Retreat 6, Supper 6.10, Bugle Call 7.50, Tattoo 8, Taps 8.30.

P.S.

I am in a very good health and content, and am very glad that I did not listed in infantry. You know that I am a friend of horses and indeed have a herewith a good opportunity to take the comfort in spending the time with them on account having joined a battery to defend liberty for which I went ----.

The other day a man said to me -- Well gunner you got a good post now -- yes said I -- I take any place, in which I can do my duty, to put down this rebellion the quickest way. Well said he can you put their rebellion down quicker as gunner than cannoneer. --- Yes said I for I point the gun myselve now, and know to swing the trail around and to send the charge or projectile to the very heart of rebellion to kill all the d---- rascals who dare to take up arms to fight against us and the Stars and Stripes. He went of then saying that's so. ---- This fellow was a regular Copperhead.

We have been out several times to expend three to four hours in firing at the target. I had a shot of 1000 yard to send to --- had to do all the work alone. --- Well I know then that I was just the man for it. --- I went to work in taking out a shell, cut the fuse to 3 1/2 of a second, gave them the order Load, by which I gave my elevation to 2 3/4 of a degree -- point the piece -- Fire -- Boo[m] it went the shell sending her way to its object and burst right over it. ---- It was a first right shot. The first Lieutenant who was the Commander of the Battery said well done well done. --- We have very nice officers for our Lieutenants. Their names are 1st Lieut. Mr. Erickson - 1st Lieut. ??? Mr. Whitaker -- 2 Lieut. Mr. Foster and Milton. They are all very nice gentlemen.

I must mention that our first Lieutenant Erickson had temporary command of the battery of which he showed the right man to be for us. All the members of the battery agreed to recommend him to Governor Andrew for our Captain but the letter reached his Excellency to[o] late for we saw in the Boston Journal that John Bigelow had been appointed. --- Well it was to late, but I must give Lieut. Erickson all the praise he deserves. He was very active and said that he would make this battery the best in the U.S.A. The way he would drill us was in the morning in battery and in the afternoon, in the fort in mechanical maneuvers. The other day he would let every man mount a horse to learn how to ride -- beginning by a walk, then trott -- gallop like cavalry drill. - That was something for the boys. ----

One Sunday I took a ride towards Alexandria about 8 miles from here. I went through a barrack camp at once I heard a voice in the rear of Hollow --- Holloro. I turn around and saw a Weymouth boy by the name of Alfred Tirril who knew me by Jim. I found four or ? more -- I found also Isaac Biney. --- Well we were all glad to see each other. Spent an hour and ??? then in wishing us good luck. --- This was a convalenent camp for sick soldiers of about 50 barracks.

Well Doctor I wish you good bye -- I should like to hear from you very much --- but I know it is hard to get a letter of you --- but after all if you know how desirous --- I was and how happy I would be to receive a letter from you --- then I should think that you would out right down write to me. ---- Please give my kind remembrance and best respect to Mrs. Weston, also to all the rest.

Your friend
Augustus Hesse