Headquarters 148 Reg N.Y.S.Vols

Camp Folger Portsmouth, Va. Mar 1^st

 

            Dear Sister

                                    I rec^d your letter yesterday when I was out on picket one of the boys in our company brought it out. was glad to hear from home again. I had a pretty hard day it rained all of the time. at our post we called all of the boys in but one who stood on the four corners where it necessary to keep one to search carts They are very particular now & I search pretty closely for contraband goods some days we confiscate a $100 worth About six Oclock last night a drunken teamster came along tipped over broke his / wagon tongue. he was drunk and ugly. his wagon was about ½ mile away 8 barrels of ale in it. We get the fellow up to head quarters and thought we would keep him till morning but he was so ugly could not do anything with him.

 

So we got a cart put one of the mules in it and took him to Portsmouth to the provost Marshall we had to tie his hands and feet Jim Allen from Bristol drove the mule and kept the prisoner in the cart. got down there and the Marshall thought he would let him stay in his office till morning he was so wet & cold but he raved & tore around so we could not keep him there so we took him to the jail and locked / him in a cell. he was a tough one. I wrenched my side a little in a tussel with him but I brought him to [?]

 

Dr Simmons has gone home. I am sorry but cant help it. Lib Barnard is married at last. I should like to have attended the wedding.

 

Who is the executor of Guy's will. I dont see what makes the boys up to Suffolk hoarse when I was up there I noticed it. Jack Webb could not speak aloud. I think it probable that we will stay here some time and like enough always be kept at this kind of business Col Johnson was at Fortress Monroe last week & he say that Gen Dix told him that we should stay here as long as he had command of this / department but we cant tell anything about it.

 

Tell John that I should not wonder if he had a chance to see some fighting now the conscription act has passed aint glad though. I hope it will bring out some of those chaps. I get along first rate stewing fruit. I can cook any thing most now I had a box of sardines for dinner yesterday a fellow gave them to me they were first rate

 

I dont know as you can read this it looks worse than Joe's used to Write soon again Tell Willie he take the sled but I guess he will have to let the fiddle alone awhile

           

Good bye Ever your

Affect. Brother Charlie

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