Fort Independence Oct 16^th 1861

 

Dear Sister

                        I have neglected writing to you longer than I meant at first. Time goes quite fast here one day passes away and then another and now it is nearly two weeks since I wrote home last. I have received quite a number of letters within the last week and I shall have to answer them I like to get letters first rate and it does not trouble me to read them if they are long. I had a letter from Martha and Lavina this afternoon I had just commenced reading one when I was called to go and help move some boxes I went out and see they did not need me much so came back and read the letters and then went and helped load boxes for about an hour. Last Sunday I thought I would have the day to write but I was on police and had to work all day nearly, cutting the wood bringing water washing dishes &c. There is no difference here between Sundays and week days only the drill. There is no drill. In the morning there is inspection / of arms. the men fall out and have there guns inspected. Saturday afternoons we do not have any drill but have a general cleaning up. Each day there is two police appointed to do the extra work and help the cook. There is an orderly for each room to keep the room clean and look after the fire. I am orderly today of this room. it is the first time I have been orderly and I have been on the police but once. We are back here in the Fort again. I think likely you saw by the papers that the regulars had left here. They went Monday. We are alone on the island now and have charge of the Fort. last Tuesday we cleaned up after the regulars and moved up here. There is five rooms open for us now besides the cook and dining room. at the other quarters we all slept in the same room. There is only twelve in this room four in a bunk three bunks. I have drilled considerable last week and this. twenty of us have muskets to do guard duty with and we have drilled with them. I have not been on guard yet and shall not be tomorrow but expect I will be Friday. We would have to learn guard duty sometime and this is a good chance It is not much work to be guard as we are. After ten o'clock there is no guard, they go to sleep in guard house, and day times are not required to be / very strict. can sit down and talk. to day there has been but one sentinel he walks around on top of the walls. There is one prisoner in the guard house he has a cannon ball chained to his ancle I believe he deserted from the old company of Engineers and the other day came down here and enlisted in the regiment, and they left him on our hands he eats at the same table with us. He tried to desert from the regiment, that is the reason he is a prisoner. Last Saturday a party of men from some foundry were trying some morters here on the island. They fired the balls up into the air and what was funny we could see the balls go in the air. I could not catch them with my eye every time they would go so fast but twice I saw the ball and watched them till they were out of sight. then after waiting some little while I could see the water splash up, way off two or three miles away. The balls were in the air most half a minute. It seemed funny to me to watch a cannon ball in the air. I had a very good time at Ipswich I should think it a very good place, it is very pleasant there. I stoped at the / Hotel and found out that bread with a little butter tasted quite good. We have molasses here now. I do not need to complain in the least of army rations, and I have about come to the conclusion that a soldiers life is generally rather lazy. One day I drilled about five hours and then had all the rest of the time. I cannot go to bed till nine oclock unless I get excused from roll call. the roll is called at revelle at retreat and at tattoo. We have a drummer now all to ourselves, and will have a fifer. General Totten the Commander in chief of the engineers is expected to be here tomorrow he may order us off to West Point. I hope he will. I was not over pleased to see to see Crossley here. I never knew him much of any and perhaps I shall not be with him much more now than if I was at the Valley. Tuesday there was two fellows here from Royalston. They inquired for me. they knew Milton and he told them to see me I told them to decide for themselves. I hope they will conclude to enlist for they seemed quite good fellows The company has not filled up very fast lately Crossley has not been before the doctor yet and is not sworn in but he seems determined to join and will count one. I got a letter from Sarah. if you see her say to her that she must have patience and she will get a letter from me sometime. I am not homesick any now though sometimes I would kinder like a piece of pie I would like to go chestnuting tip top. My paper is full now and you mus write again soon as convenient

Jerome

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