Transcription

on any account, strive to dispel the feeling,

but go on “seeking” until you find, bearing

in mind that the Lord is “faithful and

true,” and that “whosoever cometh unto

God thro’ Christ, He will in no wise cast

out.”

     Would you like to have me return now?

I can, I think, procure my discharge, and

having been thro’ a severe battle and done

my duty there, I do not see where the dis-

honor can be in leaving a service where

my deafness renders promotion hopeless.

No man (or officer) in this regiment has

been more unsparing of himself in the

discharge of his duty than I have, yet  

no man has been treated more shamefully,

and only a sense of the dishonor of leaving

before a general engagement has kept me

where I have been exposed to such indignity.

Our present Adjutant (Lieut. Warner) is a boor

by disposition and education – a narrow-

minded, easily humbugged, and brutal black-

guard, & I threw up the situation of clerk in con-

tempt, threatening him and the Colonel with a

general court-martial.

     Our division is now commanded by Brig-

Gen. Kearney, a hero of the Mexican War. His

name is historical already. Hamilton, and our

Lieut. Col. (Egan) are under arrest for treason

at the Rip raps. They had communication with the

rebels at Yorktown, & told them of the positions of our

camps, so that they could shell us, & also betrayed

McClellan’s intention to attack a detached

fortification of great importance.

     I must close. Give my love to all, &

believe me,

                         ever yours,

                                    JHB Jenkins.

Miss Mary A. Benjamin

care of John Lewis Jenkins, Esq.,

                           Smyrna, Del.