I will write you
a few hurried lines. I do not know
when I wrote last. You must excuse
me if it was a long time ago. We have
been moving about almost constanly
of late. Last Saturday we relieved
the 10^th corps in the trenches in
front of Petersburg. We laid in
the trenches 48 hours. Since then
we have been laying[?] a short distance
in the war. Right before last we pack-
ed at 2 oclock in the morning & now
been waiting ever since. Ready to move
at a moments notice. There are important
movements in progress. The 10^th & 18^th Co.
are in the other side of the James.
Reports are that they have gained

[----?] [-----?]. I hope
it is all true. The 2^nd Corps hold a
very long line & the men are distrib-
uted very thinly but our works are
very strong & I think we can hold them
We are able[?] to move at any moment
somewhere perhaps to Deep Bedlin[?]
perhaps to the left. We are waiting
patiently ready to do what ever
be required of us.
I am afraid our regt. will make
a very poor fighter. We have over
300 new recruits and only about 25
old men. They have not been drilled
at all yet, but I hope we shall not
disgrace our good name if we are
called upon

We have good news from
Sherman & you may look
for something from Grant
that will rejoice the hearts
of loyal people my Co. time

I think I shall go out with my
Co. I can do so if I choose.
I would like to see the war out
but I feel as though I wanted
some rest. besides I do not like
the men that will have
command of the regt & the
regt. is now composed of the
meanest kind of vagabonds
it will be a NH Regt only in
name. Most all the officers
are going home.

I have only 9 men of the original
98 to be mustered out.
We were paid off last
Monday six months pay.
I wrote to James this week.
Hope hear from you
soon. Will write the first
chance. My health is good
Truly yours. G. S. Gove.