He transferred to the elite Washington Artillery one month later!

3 pages, 5 x 8, in ink, written by John Forrester Griffin.

Camp at Deep Creek, Warwick Co., Va., Dec. 29, 1861

Dear Uncle,

Your interesting letter from Richmond dated 19th did not reach me until the 27th. However I could not have come down to the city as no soldier is permitted to leave Genl. Magruder having revolked his order granting furloughs. Col. [Henry] Forno returned to camp yesterday. I asked him if he had seen you in R.[ichmond]. He saw father in N.[ew] O.[rleans]. We were all glad to see him back again. He is beloved by the Regmt. Green is doing more for the Govmt. than I am for we are all leading a lazy camp life. The enemy are afraid to advance & they are too strongly fortified to admit of our attacking them in their strongholds. I read a late Richmond paper stating that large bodies of English troops had arrived in Canada & that France would recognize the Confederacy if England demanded our Commissioners from the Federal government. I wrote to Grandma a few weeks ago. Did she ever receive it. Tell her she must write me a long letter. I wrote to you at the same time. The mails are very irregular. I sometimes get letters from home in eight or ten days and other times they are twenty days. If Genl. Magruder issues an order for furloughs soon as is expected I may be fortunate enough to draw one. You may be sure I will avail myself of the opportunity to return home. I am now trying to get a transfer to the Washington Artillery but as Col. Hunt is loathe to loose a man from his regiment he may withold his consent. There is not much danger of my getting into a battle here as the enemy are very timid & retire immediately upon our advance. Give my love to Aunt Jane, the boys & girls & whenever you have a leisure moment drop me a line. With love I remain,

Yours Affectionately,

Forrester Griffin

Light age toning and wear. Very neatly written with some excellent content.

John Forrester Griffin, enlisted on May 10, 1861, at New Orleans, and was mustered into Co. A, 5th Louisiana Infantry. He was promoted to corporal, May 20, 1861, at Camp Moore, La. Transferred to the renowned Washington Artillery, on Feb. 1, 1862, at Manassas, Va.