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Line of BreastWorks Near Howlitt's House
Nov 8th 1864 

John W. Martin 

Dear Brother,
I suppose you have almost come the conclusion that I have forgotten how to write, or ... I would have written to you long ere this. But you must excuse my negligence for not writing sooner, I have been sick with the Chills & Fevers the larger portion of the time. I have had three attacks of them, I am now just getting over the last attack, my legs & ankles last night when I took off my shoes & socks were swollen as tight as the skin would allow. There are a great many cases of Chills & Fevers in the company at this time. A.W. Martin is at the Hospital at this time & several of the other boys of our company. Times are about as ... as it ... other matter. We have had no fighting as for a long time it appears that the Yankees have no inclination of charging our lines, but make the right & left their scene of action, it is reported that when they get their Canal done that they are going to make a general attack along the whole line. There is a great many detailed men assigned to duty in the field. I have seen but one from Old Russell to wit Oliver Astrap he is assigned to Capt. Dickenson's Co. for the time being. Capt. Dickenson has some 12 or 14 attached to his Co. we have none, one of our boys ran off night before last name of Hopkins Belcher. Col. Smith is just in from a visit to Richmond he informs me that he saw several of the Russell detailed men at Camp Lee especially those salt-works fellows, to wit, A.B. Smith, Charles Smith, Jesse Browning, John Browning & one of his younger brothers. They are assigned to duty on the north side of the James, on the Mecanicksville Road. I will now tell you how we are fixed out here on this line. Well most of us have built us pretty neat and comfortable little cabins to stay in with chimneys. Peery Browning, Jacob Fuller & I stay together. We have the most comfortable house of any of the Boys. I know we have the best chimney we get along admirably. Peery is in bed now with the chillish fever but... he will soon be up and doing something in the [pipes] for he has gotin a great way of making [pipes?], he will have a chill then as soon as it is off the fever subsides he is at work again. Charles Johnson is well and is engaged in the pipe trade.

 I will close for the moment, you must write soon for I have not received a letter from you in a long time not since Andrew Martin came from home. Give my love to Mother, [Jane?] & Sally & also to all my relatives and friends.

 Your Brother, 

Harvey W. Martin