Portsmouth Va June 19, 1863

 

            Dear Sister

                                    Your letter came to day and having nothing to do I thought I would answer right away. We have had some very warm weather this week. I heard to day that thermometer was 101º yesterday. It is cooler to day and about noon we had a little shower enough to lay the dust. Monday night another scouting expedition started out and have not yet returned. I dont know when they will come in. Yesterday about 60 men of our Reg went on a transport to N. Carolina to guard it on the road. They go on the canal Capt Griswold in command Yesterday Lieut Adams & / I went over and called on Miss Pitts. She is well and I guess she likes it very well here. I am boarding yet I let the old lady have my dried apples sold them to her they almost paid for two weeks board

To night I go over to Newtown to singing school. have a good time. There is going to be a 4^th of July celebration here

 

Lieut Brown made a speech to the citizens of Portsmouth Monday night.

 

I should not be at all surprised if if we were ordered away from here now the Rebs have started to invade the north. Already we had rumors that we are under marching orders. Dr Carpenter has just come from Washington & he thinks we will have to start soon. He says we have an / excellent name there and he thinks that they wont long keep so good a Reg^t out of the field. For my part I am ready to go whenever duty calls. I expected to be fighting long before this when I enlisted, but we have been very fortunate so far. Not a man has died out of our company and there are none that are seriously ill at present. not only one man in the hospital he has fits. Sol Sullivan says he had a letter that Squire Hawks was going to be married to Jule Barkley do you hear any thing about it. Tell Willie to take good care of my things and send me his picture. He may wear my boots all he wants too. I hope the rebs will wake up the copperheads I wish they could go clear to / Albany and take Seymour prisoner and the whole of his clique with him. I hope they will stir up the peace party. I wish that this move of Lee's might be made the death blow to the rebellion. I hope Hooker will have his eyes open. I have not much confidence in him but I dont know but he will do better this time if he dont he is as bad as MClellande. This the laziest life a man ever lived I dont know as I will be good for any thing to work after I come home. Does the draft trouble John any. it dont me a bit all I want is to see it to go into effect

 

Sat. Morn. Before breakfast cloudy look a little like rain went over to choir meeting last night. They can beat the Honeoye choir all to pieces. Tomorrow I shall be on duty so can not attend meeting. I guess if Col Johnson should get marching orders he would have his men scattered so it would take some time to get them together

 

The money came all right. The boys who went out with three days rations have not returned and this the fifth day                     

 

Love to all—

C. E. Reed

Co G 148 Reg N.Y.SVols

Portsmouth Va

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