This morn I rec'd another letter from you that seemed to refresh me as nothing but a good pleasant letter can, I cannot think why you want some very important thing to write to me. It is the what is taking place & the little occurrences in that vicinity that interest me. Your letter that I rec'd. this morn just suited me. If N.Y. City should be destroyed or our Capitol at Washington be demolished or even if our own little city of Lewiston should be burned I should hear of it without your writing but of the doings of the family & the prosperity of our concerns at home, things which interest me much more, I should never hear of except by your writing to me. I feel more interest in my colt, heifer, sheep, &c than I do in all Boston. I feel more interest in our flower garden than I do in Boston Common, Central Park & all other such places in our country. I have seen Mr. Isaac Cole's

"country seat" & remember just as distinctly how it looks as if it were but yesterday that I saw it. Strange, certainly, that Mrs. Cole (Jose) dont think married life quite "on the square" I think she must have seen the "sunny side" of it. Few mortals are in just their circumstances. Sister I do believe I am coming to feel more for the woes of our race. I have thought of them much as probably you remember by hearing me speak of them, but they never moved my heart so much I think as they have recently. I dont know but it will wear off still I hope not. I rather be remembered by the afflicted & distressed of our race, than by the rich, proud & aristocratic I rather be remembered, in short, by my heart, than by my coat. I thought Fanny B. was going to write me. I should be very glad to recieve a letter from her but, in my condition should feel rather diffident about answering it. I have recd. letters from but one of my female friends since I came out here. I have written to but two or three & if there is one faithful to two or three faithless I think it is pretty well for the girls as the indian thought "two truths to one lie pretty well for an indian" I think you must get very tired writing to me & I know full well I am not worthy of so many letters but I so love to hear from home I let my feelings run away with my judgement. It is rather difficult to write here & perhaps I write more than I need to but so want to hear from my friends especially now when there is noth[ing] to take up my attention. If we were in camp where we had to drill some six or eight hours each day it would be altogether different. Here I have to look at fortifications, troops, cannons & such like, until I am so tired of them I can hardly endure it. I do sometimes sigh for a quiet place where I can rest in peace for a little while. I hope that if I am alive & well I shall be with you as soon as one year from now. I picked up a number of shells out here on the battle field yesterday, shells like some I sent in a letter a few days ago & think I shall send them in a part of paper, so I can send them for "paper postage". Day before yesterday I rec'd an "Advocate" of which I was very glad, the "Farmer" that you spoke of has not come yet. I think most of our papers come without any trouble. Have my gloves got home yet? I am not very anxious about them any way.

It is said that the 29th & 30th ME. are near here. one of our men says he has seen some of them. I am told that the whole 19th Corps is up in this vicinity If it is true then 13th ME. is also out here. I shall see them if it is a possible thing. I cannot write longer now for I expect we must go forward into the trenches again tonight & I have considerable writing to do for the Co. before I go. write to me about every body & every thing about there. My love to all our friends. I have not ceased to love any that I ever did.

Your very affectionate brother John M. Jackson

I have to be economic about paper & stamps
I am out of stamps