Headquarters 148 Reg NYork Vol

Camp Folger Portsmouth Va Feb 1^st /63

 

            Dear Sister

                                    I have just rec^d your letter have been looking for it the last 3 or 4 days. I got a letter from Henry friday which I have just answered. It is warm and pleasant to day but during the week have had a good deal of rain. I was fortunate enough not to be out in it on picket was detailed yesterday but got out and they found they had one to many corps and I was the lucky one that was sent back to camp. have had nothing to do yesterday or today I went down to the city and to fort Norfolk yesterday saw Adams. he is well / The paymaster was here Friday He paid us up to the 1^st of Oct my pay commenced the 3^rd Sept. I got $25.15 my allotment is $20 which I enclose. Sam will put his name on the back of it and he can get the money at any of the banks just the same as a check or draft

 

I have got a 10 cent shinplaster secesh which I send to Willie The tug I rode down to the fort on yesterday burst her boiler when she came back

 

They had a fight at Suffolk Friday. I don't exactly the result any farther than that drove them back. It commenced about three in the morning and lasted until dark we could hear the firing quite plain

 

            I don't think there is / much danger of our being taken prisoners here. there cant a very large force get in between here and Suffolk and they would have to drive the 99^th N.York in first which is stationed at deep creek 8 miles from here and if there was to large a force we could retire down to the city and let the blockading fleet pitch into them. I feel about as safe here as I would at home

 

I am going to send a pipe to Tom by Mr Brown who starts for home tomorrow he will send it to Honeoye from Canandaigua by Sisson I have got no stem to it he can get that most any where I feel first rate gain every day was weighed friday got up to 185 pounds have been living / mostly on bread and sugar and coffee for the last three weeks expect I soon shall reach 200 think I shall have to take to smoking for fear I shall get to fat. What does Sam think about Burnsides resigning. I believe if we do not whip them by the fourth of July we never can.

 

Dr. Simmons is well I like the old fellow first rate I had a letter from Almeron the other day he was well I dont know whether he was in the battle or not I heard that his Lieut. Col. was killed.

 

We expect Col Johnson back this week. I will write when I get the thing

                                               

Love to all

C. E. Reed

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