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+Letter of Sgt. James S. Stratton
+October 16, 1862
+War-date Union soldier's letter written by Sgt. James S. Stratton, 12th New Jersey Infantry, KIA at Ream's Station on August 25, 1864, 4p. quarto, Ellicott's Mills, October 16, 1862, and reads in part: "…The 'Commissary' of a company is not required to perform guard duty in camp, as other sergeants are, he has to be in camp to draw rations…you may infer from the above that I am always ready to avoid drilling and take advantage of any liberty which my position may afford me…Our company is detailed for picket today…After Co. F had started out this morning the remaining companies fell in with arms and formed a hollow square in front of camp to listen to orders of Col. Johnson…Private Thomas J. Gordon Co. E (formerly of Mullica Hill) was sentenced 'to wear a ball and chain' during four weeks - to be released from solitary confinement during six hours each day then being employed at some labor in camp. This man, perhaps you remember, is a very rough character and is now sentenced so heavily, because of an attempt to shoot a comrade. He was for a time in the 1st N.J. Cav….Co. F. is doing first rate, nobody in the guard house, and but one in the hospital…What think you of the 'Proclamation?' What do you think will be the result of our state election? How do the candidates Parker and Ward compare?...The weeklies that come to Co. F are for the most part from the office of the 'Constitution' to Lieut. P_ and consequently of a republican stamp. Please send Camden and Trenton papers. [Pvt. John H.] Schreiner, a classmate of mine at Bridgeton, …is in the 24th N. J. and has the position of 1st Sergt. Co. H. Rob Potter [2nd Lt. Robert B. Potter] of the Chronicle is a Lieut. in the same regt…." VG.
+http://www.hcaauctions.com/LotDetail.aspx?inventoryid=19201
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 MARYLAND, Oct. 5th, 1862\\
-FRIEND FERGUSON:—We, Co. K, having been detailed for picket duty, and being comfortably quartered at our post, I thought I could not employ the time better than by having a few words with you. As we are not supposed to be so vigillant in the daytime as at night, and having but one post to guard, it leaves us plenty time to look around. We are posted some two miles from camp, at a place called Helltown, (nice name that,) consisting of a blacksmith and wheelwright shop, and two dwelling houses, with several farm houses in sight; one of the farm houses belonging to Mason, one of the commissioners to Europe for the Southern Confederacy. After his leaving here for the South, his slaves burned down the house. The ruins indicating it to have been a very fine residence, the gasometer still standing showing it to have been fitted up in first style for convenience and comfort. The dairy farm adjoining, is occupied by an Englishman, who gave us all our information concerning the estate, &c. All the wealthy people around here are the strongest kind of secesh. A mistake in our commissary department being made, we were furnished with grub foe only nine men when it should have been enough for ten, consequently we had to forage, or in other words do a little of soldier stealing. One of the boys succeeded in driving a good big chicken into the dinner pot, while others went in another direction and procured some ham, and our vegetables being in to low a state to correspond with our appetites, two was appointed to see to procuring some—they started forth, but soon returning and reporting that nary potato could be found in any of the fields; we were at a loss to know how to get some, but our pockets not being entirely dried up we raised a half of a peck. Some we fried with ham, which we made a supper off of. Having rigged a shelter by placing some rails up against the fence, and covering the top, jade and one end with cornstalks, we made right comfortable quarters. The pickets, three in number, having been posted the ballance of us, having built a good fire in the road, spent the rest of the evening in spinning yarns, smoking, &. The fire having burnt out the next move was under the cornstalks. It having become so cold towards morning we were compelled to turn out; but, however, our old friend fire was resorted to for the ballance of the long cold night. About daylight we were again in motion, the chicken and potatoes being converted into a stew, and served up hot, with coffee and bread, we had as nice a breakfast as anybody could ask for. During the evening one of the party had gone to a farm house and bought some pies as a desert for breakfast. Having washed up the dishes and packed up our traps, we waited the arrival of the Company that was to release us. During the time we captured a hard looking subject, (no doubt one of Jackson’s men,) who tried to play crazy on us, but the boys couldn’t see it. Upon our arrival at camp we handed him over to our worthy Captain Thompson. More anon,
+FRIEND FERGUSON:—We, Co. K, having been detailed for picket duty, and being comfortably quartered at our post, I thought I could not employ the time better than by having a few words with you. As we are not supposed to be so vigillant in the daytime as at night, and having but one post to guard, it leaves us plenty time to look around. We are posted some two miles from camp, at a place called Helltown, (nice name that,) consisting of a blacksmith and wheelwright shop, and two dwelling houses, with several farm houses in sight; one of the farm houses belonging to Mason, one of the commissioners to Europe for the Southern Confederacy. After his leaving here for the South, his slaves burned down the house. The ruins indicating it to have been a very fine residence, the gasometer still standing showing it to have been fitted up in first style for convenience and comfort. The dairy farm adjoining, is occupied by an Englishman, who gave us all our information concerning the estate, &c. All the wealthy people around here are the strongest kind of secesh. A mistake in our commissary department being made, we were furnished with grub foe only nine men when it should have been enough for ten, consequently we had to forage, or in other words do a little of soldier stealing. One of the boys succeeded in driving a good big chicken into the dinner pot, while others went in another direction and procured some ham, and our vegetables being in to low a state to correspond with our appetites, two was appointed to see to procuring some—they started forth, but soon returning and reporting that nary potato could be found in any of the fields; we were at a loss to know how to get some, but our pockets not being entirely dried up we raised a half of a peck. Some we fried with ham, which we made a supper off of. Having rigged a shelter by placing some rails up against the fence, and covering the top, sides and one end with cornstalks, we made right comfortable quarters. The pickets, three in number, having been posted the ballance of us, having built a good fire in the road, spent the rest of the evening in spinning yarns, smoking, &. The fire having burnt out the next move was under the cornstalks. It having become so cold towards morning we were compelled to turn out; but, however, our old friend fire was resorted to for the ballance of the long cold night. About daylight we were again in motion, the chicken and potatoes being converted into a stew, and served up hot, with coffee and bread, we had as nice a breakfast as anybody could ask for. During the evening one of the party had gone to a farm house and bought some pies as a desert for breakfast. Having washed up the dishes and packed up our traps, we waited the arrival of the Company that was to release us. During the time we captured a hard looking subject, (no doubt one of Jackson’s men,) who tried to play crazy on us, but the boys couldn’t see it. Upon our arrival at camp we handed him over to our worthy Captain Thompson. More anon,
 TH REG., N. J. V.