1863 Feb 21
Camp Gordon
February 21, 1863
Dear companion,
I seat myself this beautiful Saturday morning to drop you a line which will inform you that I am well and hearty, hoping, however, that these lines may reach and find you and Mollie well and doing well, and all the rest of the connection, neighbors, and friends.
Sublime and imposing is the subject upon which I am about to write. While I am not capable of giving to you a correct narrative, we were called upon yesterday to go out on a General Review. We took our arms and accouterments and marched out and filed right and went to Savannah, but we fell in with a multitude of soldiers on the outskirts of the city. There the lively strains of martial music fell upon our ears which seemed to fill every heart with courage. We then formed new lines according to order and marched through the city out to the south Parade Ground and then we were formed in lines represented by the above mark.
[diagram showing “Savannah” on left, “Our Boys” and “7000 soldiers, 40 from each Company” on right]
The small marks around outside are infantry. The marks inside the square are two regiments of cavalry.
Generals Beauregard and Mercer with their staffs then commenced on the side next to “Savannah” and rode all round inside and out. They then placed themselves on the line and we marched around. Then we marched back to town and formed a line before Col. Gordon’s door, and then he give us all a dram that is [in] our regiment, and them we marched back to camps.
We expect to see a man shot tomorrow or next day. It is the same one I wrote about before. He belongs to John Pot’s company. Rumor says there is to be four more shot on or about the same time. They are deserters. I do not think that I will like to see them shot, but I may have to.
I have several more things of interest to write but I have not time. I must close.
Mr. Benson is better. Mr. Orear is well. Mr. Spencer is grunting about. John Pot is well.
Jane, if Jim Shockley comes down here, send me some butter, if you have got it, and a little dried fruit. We get enough to eat, but anything from home will be acceptable now.
So, I must close.
Good-bye, Jane.
Yours, etc.
W. H. Harden
To N. J. H.
Jane, Mr. Bowen is discharged and will start home in a short time and I will send my Janes Coat home by him. I will put it in along with Mr. Spencer’s coat and send it to his wife, and she will send it to you. It will get there Tuesday or Wednesday next. I want you to write me word whether you get it. I think it safer to send it home that way than to keep it here.
W. H. Harden
Be careful how you open this. There is a booger in it.