[note in blue pencil: Trip down Potomac]

 

Headquarters of 148 Reg. Co.G.

            Suffolk Virginia Oct 3. /62

           

Brother Sam

                                    I am waiting to hear from home. I wrote to you from Washington last week and expect the answer to be forwarded to me here

We left Washington Sunday morning, had first rate time coming down the river saw the forts one I could count about 40 guns on top. Saw where the rebels had their batteries last year. We got to Fortress Monroe Monday morning did not land but anchored off from the shore about a two hours and then started for Norfolk. There are some big guns at the Fortress. Going to Norfolk, we saw a wreck some said it was the Merimac and some the Cumberland. The worst part of our ride was our fare. had two meals a day and had coffee & bread for breakfast and tea and bread for supper. you need not be afraid of my eating to much meat here what we do get is salter than the ocean.

 

We stayed at Norfolk three or four hours and then / left for Suffolk. I thought that there were some darkies at Baltimore but it did not begin with Norfolk.

They felt very jubilent one old wench fairly jumped up and when we passed. The whites were few & scattering. They are all secessionists one man told me that he supposed they had about 700 000 men in the field. We got to Suffolk about sundown did not pitch our tents but lay in our blankets without them did not get any supper only what bread we had in our haversacks. The first one I saw most after I got off the cars was Pete Guerin he says he likes it first rate. The weather is awful warm here I think it is warmer than it is at home in harvest time it takes the tuck right of a fellow.

 

There are a good many sick here already the water is very bad however it dont hurt me any yet. The second night we were here there were a great many sick and awful sick too. some think they were poisoned by eating stuff that they bought of pedlers who came in camp

 

We can get sweet potatoes here pretty cheap I have bought some dont get any thing but salt to eat on them and some times not that

 

The 130 Reg from Portage is here. I have see Justus Coy. there is some talk of his getting an appointment of Clerk to Brig. Gen. Have been down and seen the Mounted rifle boys. Almeron was up here Wednesday stayed all day he looks a little thin been sick considerable but is pretty well now 

 

Willard is one of the sergeants not the Orderly

 

This morning Niel Goold and Jack Webb were up to our camp both of them look tough.

 

Our Capt is sick now. Yesterday we had to take fifty men out of each company and go to work building a fort about a mile and half east of here. This place is well fortified they have been building forts all around on the west and south. We are right at the head of the Dismal swamp. the Nasemond river runs on the north west. we went down in swiming in it four feet from the shore you cant touch bottom it is about ten rods wide.

 

Some of our boys have been out on picket they went about five miles west of here they like it first rate are all fast for going again.

 

Hoff was among them he says he saw two or three rebels across the river about 40 rods skulking around. you cant fire in them but I guess they fire on us when they get a chance

 

We have got about twenty thousand men here now, and the rebels have got a lot of them on the other side of the Black Water this morning I heard that four thousand had crossed on this side we expect more troops here Friday E've. This forenoon I was broken off very suddenly a squad of twenty men from each company to go down on the fort Lieut Brown had command of our squad / I acted as sergeant so did not have to shovel any. We work in squads of fifties

 

The news is quite exciting here to night I expect a battle is going on west of here I understand that 5 Regiments have left here to day and last night. The 150 Reg has gone. We ordered up from our work in a hurry to night should not be at all surprised if we had orders to march to night. You dont know how hot it is here I never suffered so much from the heat before, wish I had my wool hat here now. When you write to me tell how you get along with your work. Has the colt got straightened up yet. Tell John I saw lots of men driving six mules with one line. Send me a Democrat and Independent can get Tribunes here.

 

We dont get much time to read sundays are just the same as any other days. I dont know any thing about our Chaplain but I know he is not much like Mr Day.

Tell Mother she need not worry about me at all for I enjoy as much as I expected going to war Tell Caroline to write to me and Tom. Send me your photograph and Tom to. I wish the rest would get theirs taken and send to me. I have had the best supper to night I have had here and all I wanted to eat. It was beans and bread and we had some fresh meat I did not eat much of that

 

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Direct your letters to

Suffolk Virginia

Co. G. 148 Reg

Care of Col. W^m

Johnson

via, Washington, D.C.

Love to all, How is

Father now. Write

soon good night

            C. E. Reed

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