December 22, 1861 from Camp Dumont

December 22, 1861 from Camp Dumont

Camp Dumont Decr 22, 1861

My Old Friend

Theodore Sir,

I take up my pen to drop you a line. This is Sunday to day it is raining. The Boys are all in their Quarters except the fellows on guard. A cold rain slightly sleeting. I just passed sentinal who acosted me thus this is a devil of a time on us poor Devils, yet they are as Comfortable fixt as the circumstances will admit of. They have two coats, two Blankets, the overcoat a large coat, one of the Blankets ________? yet a soldier has a hard time. Yet most of them meet if cheerfully. It would be hard for a fellow to have the Blues in camp. There is always something on hand to Keep a fellowing stiring. Out of a thousand men promisculy thrown together you may forme Some Idea of the tricks & tantrums but your Ideas will fall fare short. We are drilling prety hard about this time. The general order is four hours a day Sunday excepted, but if double the hours & and not not Except Sunday it would come nearer what we are doing. We are buisy at Some duty from daylight till Nine oclock P. M. I never was tighter to Buisness than I ever was. We go by the tap of the Drum and Bugle. We wake up by the drum, we get up by the taps of the drum, we call the Roll by the drum. Military discipline has one tendency to make men regular in their habits. I have been deparred of doing many things that I wanted to do. I wold like to visit the Sick boys oftener than I do but cannot. My duty are in camp or on drill and they have me to Stand Square toed to the work. Our boys that are in the Hospital are all better. I sent Orderly Faucett to see them yesterday also to take them some dride fruit yet they may not get it. He left the fruit in the hands of Mr. Parker. Parker has been Nurse at the Hospital ever since we came in to Camp. He looks after the Interest of Our Boy. We have _____? Pinnick, George Linley, Wm. Street, Martin V. Dishin, Andrew Fite all but Dishin had the Measles. They are all better. Linly is the worst off of any. The Hospital is two miles from camp a large brick building formily usid for a Female College in Bards Town. We are campt in the Fairground, a beautiful place, the stabls are fine places for our horses. We have no such stables any fair ground in _____? that I have seen.

I was detailed as surgeon of the Reg. two day this week in the absence of Dr. Pearson. I made the acquaintance of a Number of people in Bardstown mosly Union Men but some Sesesh. They are clever, they treated me well especially the union ladys. They visited the sick in Hospital and brought them many little delicacys that none but women Know how to prepare. God Bless the Women. A sesesionwoman brought our sick soldiers soap but before I would let them have it I inquired of the Lady that Boarded with whether it might not be dangerous for them to use it. She told me that the soap was all right that the woman was a good woman that her heart was all right but her heart rong. We have a peaceable time that is the sitizens have to what they had before the troops came to Bardstown. The union & sessesion men were on the eve of a revolution a fight among themselves but the session are now Quiet. I talked with one Judge Newman. He told me that he had a notice served on him that if any of the sessionist was taken up or had any legle proceding had a gaist them his life was to pay the penalty. He said that the night of Golden Circle had their Regular meeting and have a regular weekly communication with the Rebal Army.

My old friend, I want you to write to me or if at any time you could send me a paper to read. We want reading matter verry much. Anything that is printed is snacked at with a rellish. I am well never was in better health than now. I have been improving ever since I left Camp Jo Holt. My soward I prise very high. I love it as though it was _____________? matter. I shall ever cherish a warme recollection for you and all the good people about Orangeville.

Fairwell

J. A. Ritter

John Buskirk has had diarah for two day. He is not sick enough to go to Hospital & I hope will not have to go there.

If you see Joseph Dunkin or any of our boys tell them to report themselves at General Buells head Quarters Louisville for a pass to come out to Bardstown. Buells head Qts. is at Louisville.

All the Boy are well except as herin named.