Camp Folger Portsmouth Vir

Sunday Dec 7^th 1862

 

Dear Sister

                        I have just rec'd your letter together with one from Mr Day. I was glad to hear from home again and that you were all well I am about well now but have not been returned to duty. We are having the coldest weather here now that we have experienced in Virginia freezes considerable nights now. cold northwest wind. We have to keep pretty close to the stove to keep anywheres near warm rather uncomfortable writing I wrote to John the other / day. thought he would be glad to know that I had not forgotten him.

 

You want to know how the chicken kept. It was hurt a little when I got it and in a day or two was past keeping eating.

 

You inquire about picketing all they have to do is to stand on 2 hours on and 4 off but they have to keep awake 4 hours out of six. You see we go out to a station with a squad of men and they are divided in three relieves a corporal over each relief All the corp. has to do is to take out his relief put them on their posts and go back to the station so you see they do not have to stand on / guard at all. We always have a good fire at the station or headquarters of the pickets, which either is a building or tent. I have only been on picket 4 times in Virginia but should have been on more had I not been sick. The capt & Lieut. have to go every time the comp. goes (which is once in eight days)

 

Our Chaplain is not worth a snap. he never knows any one the sec. time never nods. I have met him lots of times and tried to speak to him but never could catch his eye.

 

Some time ago you wrote sent me a slip in a newspaper on the hospital at Washington. I saw what it meant or what you wanted me see which was in regard to profanity / in the army. It just so in this Regm. There is scarcely a man in this company that swears, and the Col is as profane as John Westfall. I have not uttered an oath nor do I feel tempted to any more that I did at home. I have made a practice of reading more or less in your testament every day and have failed but few days since I have been in Virginia. Since I came in this camp I commenced reading the testament through and have got most through Acts. Our Chaplain is a Methodist he dont do a bit of good. The boys have no respect for him. One night he was out begging milk, asked the woman if she could not give him a little milk he was the chaplain of the 148 Reg

 

I have answered Marions letters regularly, wrote her directed to Bellevue wrote her one last thursday directed to Honeoye. I like Dr Simmons first rate can go and get medicine any time and he will excuse me from duty just as long as want to be I would like to see Willie and all the rest of you am not homesick though mean to take things patiently. I wish when Willie has his photograph the rest of you or as many as can have theirs taken It would do me a heap of good Please write often from home

 

Love to all Your affn Brother Charlie

 

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You must not send me any more stamps at present for I bought a half dollars worth yesterday. I think we will stay here all winter as our Regiment is pretty well broken up. Hoff my chum has has been down to Craneys Island building barracks for niggers he brought a good bed tick back with him which we can get filled with husks make a good bed for us

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