Thanks to William Griffing of Spared & Shared for giving me permission to read the letters of Private John Hawn Boon of Company A, 24th New Jersey Volunteers that he worked to transcribe and publish on his site,

Boon is from Always Creek, Salem County. He will be just 20 years old when he enlists in the fall of 1862. The 24th wasn't supposed to see the front lines of the War but as circumstances would have it, they would be among the first Union Brigades to attack Maryes heights at Fredericksburg.

Boon however, would miss the battle entirely due to what he calls "Lung Fever", probably pneumonia. he writes his brother Edward and sister Sarah but it seems to be in vain as they either don't write him on purpose or perhaps their letters get lost in the Mail, as Boon will note his fear of sending mail home not being delivered,

Jo ...