Norfolk Va. Aug. 14^th /63

 

            Dear Sister

                                    I have just rec^d your letter you did not say whether you got my money or not. I suppose you did as you got the letter. We have had awful hot weather but to day and yesterday it is a little cooler. We had a little rain yesterday which cooled the air a little. I feel first rate have a good appetite now better than I have had along back. Have good board our woman that we (there are seven of us) board with cooks good.

 

We had for dinner to / day a nice piece of roasted beef, potatoes, cold cabbage, good bread. Sometimes she cooks tomatoes. Have coffee for breakfast and tea for supper. I have been busy all day. A schooner came in last which was unloaded to day. It took till about one o'clock. The consignee gave me a nice bottle of preserved raspberries when we got through. I am going to have them for supper. When the boat came in this afternoon a merchant had a lot of dry goods. I went up to the store and inspected them. After I got through they offered me two dollars I suppose / for the gentlemanly manner in which I done the business of course I refused it I told them Uncle Sam paid me for my services and I was perfectly satisfied. He then took out three pair of nice cotton socks and made me a present of them I brought them down and gave one pair to one of the boys and put the other in my knapsack Yesterday there was another unloaded. The man made a present of a box of cigars what do you think of that Dr Bellows Surgeon of the 148^th has resigned / and every one is rejoicing. He did not tend to his business at all, was drunk or full of whisky all of the time. Our 2^ond Surgeon Dr Campbell is liked first rate. A good many of the boys are going home on ten days furlough I think by and by I can get twenty days and then I am coming home to see you all. Monday I am twenty four years old have been almost a year only two more to serve Nothing I should like better than Father's & Mother's photographs & all of yours at home. I am afraid my boots will be to large. But it is about supper time and I must close

                                                           

Your Aff. Brother

C. E. Reed

 

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Dr Carpenter is our head surgeon now Dr Campbell was 3^rd surgeon Capt Griswold is sick got the fever. was out of his head last night. Been to supper our raspberries were first rate One of our company has just got back from home he had a ten day furlough

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