June 14, 1862, at the Union Encampment 
               White House, Virginia

In the morning we will be marching to join the 5th NJ that 
is attached to General Sykes's Division, as part of General 
Porter's V Corps.  Today is a day of rest for us.  It is 
about one day's march to the front.

We weren't taken off the ships in Yorktown.  Instead we were 
underway again about 1:00 in the afternoon up the York River 
to the encampment here at White House.  The trip took about 
six hours.

When we got here it was just getting dark. There seemed to 
be more campfires on the grounds around us than there were 
stars in the sky.  The word is that there is upwards of 
10,000 men here!

Within the next few days we'll be in action.  This is no 
longer the grand adventure it started out to be.  War is 
getting very close to being real. 

I'm anxious to get into a battle.  I need to know if I will 
stand and fight, or if I will panic and run?  Once I know 
everything will be easier.

I need to write Ma and Pa now. I don't know when I'll get 
another chance.  I haven't gotten a letter from them since 
Annapolis.