Headquarters of 148 Reg N.Y.S.Vol

Near Portsmouth Va. March 9^th /63

 

            Brother Sam

                                    I rec^d your letter yesterday. glad to hear from home as usual

 

This morning it is cloudy & warm rained a little before light. Yesterday morning we had a fine thunder shower grass begins to look green Sat. night I went to Ports^th with three men to guard a pile of wood on the landing got back last night about dark. Dr. Simmons has resigned & gone home left nearly two weeks ago. you can see him when you go to Canandaigua. He has been charged of receiving / bribes for discharges but I dont believe there is anything in it. I am sorry he has gone.

 

Three boys of our company have been discharged. Thom J. Powel, Shotwell Powel's son Paul Sprague & Charlie De Mint. Paul is brother in law to Bill Danders. when he goes down to see Bill he will call at our house & see you do the best you can to entertain him. He can tell all about us here

 

Orderly Paddock heard that his father was dead yesterday & he is going to try & get a furlough today he is an only son.

 

They are going to commence giving furloughs before long / I understand we will have to bear our own expences furloughs will be for 10 or 15 days. I have got to have my boots tapped & a patch put on which will cost me a dollar or 9 shillings I wish you would send me a dollar bill Rochester or Canandaigua money is good. I am sorry you have sold your pony for if I ever get a furlough in the course of a year I shall want something to drive & you have not got any thing now.

I should like to have attended the weddings I expect to hear of Tom's stepping off next just tell him I would like to hear from him 

 

I never felt better than I do now weighed 197 the other day. weather is so warm we sit without a fire. there are a but a very few sick now in the reg^t. I got an Independent yesterday send me a Times occasionally as I dont see them as often as I used too We take the Daily Tribune now so got all the news

 

If you want to use my money for any thing use it I have got two dollars in my pocket yet

 

Four boys of this Reg^t were sentenced to hard labor at Fort Norfolk for three months How does my colt look dont starve her to death this winter

                                                                                   

Your Brother

Cha^s E Reed

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