...and it took us until 9 o'clock to run to Washington only 40 miles. We had 53 cars on one train I could have walked faster and then we stoped so much

There was a lot of paroled prisoners on board that had just come from Richmond they looked hard some had coats and most of them were bare foot and all were ragged and dirty.

 

One of them told me that he had been in the service 15 months and a prisoner 3 months he said that he thought he had patriotism once but it had all gone now all he wanted was to get home again

 

One of them died on the cars and one fell off and was run over during the day 

 

We went into barracks that night all slept on the floor got some supper but it was so tough that we could not eat it I slept well that night

 

Yesterday morning I went off and got me a good breakfast of pork steak coffee &c

 

Visited the Capitol it is used as a hospital now could not get inside. Went to the treasury buildings got my money all in one dollar Green Backs so as to be handy went up to the white house went inside up stairs had a fine view of the Potomac could see a bridge across it did not see old Abe though

 

At 12 oClock packed up our traps and started for camp ground here 

 

We have got awful mean little tents here.

 

From our camp you can count a half dozen forts around and men are camped all over

 

We expect to go to fortress Monroe as soon as we can get transported still we may not go yet—I hope we will

 

Yesterday morning there was a report that we were going to Suffolk from there into immediate action as they expected an attack there At any rate it is not probable that we shall stay here long

 

We did not get any thing to eat from yesterday noon until 9 o clock last night when we got some pork & bread I took a slice and stuck it on a stick in the fire it went first rate 

 

This morning we had pork and bread good coffee sweetened with white sugar

 

There is a fine spring here water cold and plenty of it

 

I should like to hear from home but I do not know hardly where to have you direct.

 

I guess if you direct to Washington Company G 148 Regiment that it will get to me I shant write again till we get stationed some where. There are guards the whole length of the Baltimore & Washington Rail Road a few rods apart they acted as if they were glad to see us, but I must stop

 

Love to all

            Yours C E Reed

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