1864 CIVIL WAR Soldier Letter - 2nd US SHARPSHOOTERS - Brandy Station Va

Description

Civil War soldier's letter, 4 pgs., approx. 5" x 8", datelined
"Camp near Brandy Station, Virginia, Jan. 24, 1864"
, from Joseph C. Barton, Co. H,
2nd U.S. Sharpshooters
, to his wife.
The writer of this letter,
Joseph C. Barton
, (1834-1864), was from Warren, Vermont. On Dec. 18, 1863, he was mustered into Co. H, 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters.
Mortally wounded at the Battle of Totopotomoy Creek, Va. on May 31, 1864
, and died of his wounds on Aug. 26, 1864.
Great content, writing of Rebel deserters coming into their lines, of taking prisoners when they go out on picket. He writes that the kine pox vaccine  (cow pox) hasn't begun to work on his arm yet, and that small pox broke out in their camp, but they removed the man from the camp, so it didn't spread. He writes of seven men in their Regiment who died of poisoning from eating cakes and pies they bought from old women and young boys, and of another man who bought a cake in Baltimore that was full of glass.
The letter reads (spelling corrected):
"Camp Near Brandy Station, Virginia, Jan. 24, 1864
My Dear Wife and Companion,
I improve this time to write to you, but I don't feel very well satisfied to have all of the boxes. Receive letters from home and I don't receive any but one since I come to my Regiment. I expected to have one last night, but received none. I heard by Eaton's letter that the box was on the way. I have wrote six or seven letters since I came to my regiment to you. Only received one letter in return.
I am well and enjoy good health as I ever did. We had an examination today. We saw Brigadier General Birney, Commander of our Corps. A fine man indeed. I enclose a five dollar bill in this letter of Confederate money. It is worth nothing but to look at. Keep it until I come home. Solomon gave it to me.
The Kine Pox don't work in my arm yet, but I think it will work pretty soon. The typhoid fever is in camp. The Small Pox was in camp, but they carried the man out of camp, so that it has not spread. I don't feel afraid of the fever, for I keep myself out of it as much as possible. My appetite was never better than now. I can eat all before me. I worry about you all of the time, for I am afraid you are sick, I don't get no letters from you. Take as good care of yourself as you can.
I am going on Picket tomorrow or a week from then. We take prisoners most every time we go out. The Rebs come to our lines and give themselves up. They want to get away from rebeldom.
We have not got our guns yet. There came into our Reg. night before last 48 men from Vermont, all Sharp Shooters. There was seven that came down with them that was poisoned at Alexandria. They died right off by eating pies and cakes of sutlers and old women and boys. One was poisoned when we came down, so he died right off. They don't touch this child. One of Waitsfield's boys bought a cake full of glass in Baltimore. He throwed it away.
I don't think of much more to write. This from your absent friend and companion and absent husband,
Joseph C. Barton
Farewell beloved Wife.
I mailed a paper to you today and Primer the Christian Commission gave to me. They give us papers frequently and Primers.
I washed my clothes the other day. I was rather awkward in doing it, but I got them pretty clean. They give us bar soap to use, as much as we want. We have coffee instead of tea. Write soon beloved wife if you are well. Do you can, for I want to hear from you very much.
Farewell, Farewell. This from yours in love.
J. C. Barton"
Fine-Very Fine.
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