Camp Folger, 1862

Portsmouth Vir. Dec. 14^th

 

            Brother Sam

                                    I am somewhat disappointed in not getting a letter from home to day. I received one from Caroline last sunday and answered it the same day you must have got it last night. now I dont like answering letters before I get them but I guess I shall have to. I have got about well now. I got pretty near well once before but was taken with chills and had a run of them for more than a week, but the doctor has got them broken and I / have not had any for nearly 48 hours. To day I am on light duty dont have to do any thing though

 

One of our boys (from Bristol) was up to Suffolk the other day. He says Almeron had been in the hospital and had just got out. The day he came away from there 12 Reg. went to Black Water. last night we heard that they had been driven back. If we had stayed there we should have had a hard time. We are not brigaded yet suppose if we had have we should have had more to do

 

There is a report around in camp that there is a prospect of our having marching orders for Washington. I hope / not for it is so much warmer here. Every day last week was pleasant, fore part rather cool but latter part as warm as Sept. Last night we did not have a bit of frost

 

What do you think of Burnside's going to Richmond I think he moves rather slow glad to see that he has made a commencement hope he will burn every place he comes too

 

It will save guarding a good many places

 

How do you get along on the farm write all about things Caroline wanted to know if we had any fresh meat We get it about twice a week. also if I sung any now. We have got two singing / books and there are two other fellows in our tent who sing Lieut Brown comes up and sings with us some times we have all parts and most all the time three parts

 

Down on Craneys Island where there are so many blacks, there are from 3 to five deaths daily they suffer a great deal

 

I wish I could send you a keg of oysters can get them from 10 to 12 cents a quart and there are the clean meat and such big ones I never saw any thing like them They catch them on broad rock between Craneys Island and Newport News They say they say they catch the best ones in the world

 

Tell John A. that I should like to hear from him and Tom too You or Caroline write soon I am going to send Willie a paper the boys took out on picket yesterday

           

Write soon. Your Aff. Brother Charlie

 

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There is a letter in the Repository and Messenger of Dec 10^th from this Reg it is a good one get it if you can it gives a good description of our movements from the beginning

 

How many bushels of ears of corn did you have this year

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