I expect you are worrying about me. It is twice as hard for me to think you are uncertain about my fate. I want you to trust in God & pray for me. If I fall remember that not a sparrow falleth to the ground without permission of Our Father. I hope & trust I shall be spared & protected & shall return to my friends in Maine. We are now behind some breast works that we threw up just now. We have thrown up three setts since last night at midnight. We see some sport that is for those that like it (I certainly dont) I hope this thing is about played out There is probably considerable hard fighting yet but it will come soon. The rest of our Regt. [i.e., Companies G, H, I, and K, 32nd Maine Infantry] has come up today. I dont believe we shall be crowded so hard now that we have some officers. I tell you we have had it rough enough. The N. H. officers have been hard & unjust with us. One day there was a Capt. of the N. H. 6th led us. I dont believe they can play that again. I saw Thomas H. Mower [i.e., Private Thomas H. Mower, Co. G, 1st Maine Cavalry] two or three days ago & I enjoyed it the most I have enjoyed myself for some time. He gave me some prepared horse radish & it made me feel the best of anything I have had for a long time. It made my courage better if possible seeing him. I dont dare to stop to write any more now

How does the trade for Uncle Jepsons place get along? I have been making great improvements on it. A day or two since when we were in sound of the big guns I was locating a green house & I got it to suit me admirably. I shall send a plan of it soon I trust. Please get them to just broach the subject to him gently so that he may be thinking of it. Write often & write long letters. It is seldom we have time to write letters or a chance to send them As I said before pray for me & again I say pray & trust in God. Much love to you all.

From your aff son
John

We are some 25 miles from Richmond