Letter from "Hammond" to Eliza Quilty

Camp across the Chicahomany June 9th 62

Friend Eliza

I received your letter of the 28th and was glad to hear that Wille was safe at home. I saw his name in the New York herald when he arived in that City it costs something to lern the news here we have to pay 20 cts apiece for papers there is some beautiful ceanery on the Pamunkey river but the Chicahomany is a low marshey fever and ague looking of consern with no banks so it is very wide after a rain storm and that is about every day until last week when it rained eight days in the week our division crost the river last thursday to the right of the battle field of saturday and sunday or rather grave yard as it is now. We were reviewd yesterday by General Prim and staff

of Spain. I inquired about the battery you mentioned. they are at Hanover - Corthouse 5 miles to the right so have no chance to find out about the man you mentioned. tell me his name in your next and I may find him when we move again We are now building bridges making courdaroy roads (I would rather make courdaroy pants) for to get the cannon up to the front, diging rifle pitts and throwing up redoubts so if we are beat in the coming battle we will have something to gall back on I have not seen Neal since he was in the fight at Hanover Courthouse. Joe is all rite yet. John Johnson is in one of the N. Y. regts. you will find five dollars enclosed which you will please hand to Mr Quilty and tell him I will send the rest in my next. give my love to all and accept

yours in haste Hammond

P S direct as before