Yorktown Va Oct 11^th 1863

 

Dear Sister

                        You see that we have moved at last. We came here yesterday left Portsmouth at 7½ oclock A.M. got here at noon The citizens of Portsmouth tried hard to keep us there but there were to many jealous officers of other regts & we had to leave I dont know how we shall like it here. It has been very unhealthy but cool weather is coming on now so I guess it will be more healthy. Yorktown is on quite a bluff. there are only a few houses here. We are encamped in the fort and I expect we are to do garrison duty. In our old tents again

 

Last night we had a heavy rain it run in under the tent & / wet some of the boys considerable. I came out all right I am pretty well with the exception of a hard cold. Miss Pitts gave me some homopathy medicine which I am taking

 

Yorktown is strongly fortified the ground back of the town is all cut up with ravines. I was out far enough to see where McClellan troops done some digging. Dr Carpenter told me that Horace Gilbert was going to start south monday and would visit our Regt before he returned. I shall be glad to see him. You will hear before you get this that Lieut Brown is dead. He died Thursday night at 7½ oclock, dropped away very easily had his senses to the last, could speak too. His Father & wife were both here / I guess he had as good care as could be away from home It is a great loss to the company We are almost with an officer now for the Capt does not take much interest in the company. We were relieved from provost duty last tuesday went back to the company I dont know whether I shall get your letter this week or not hope I shall. If we stay here long we will fix things up so they will be more comfortable. now we have to spread our blanket right in the dirt. It is a year to day since we left Suffolk. Had an easy time so far we must expect to do something now There are some big guns mounted here and some mortars the first I have seen The mounted rifles are above / us some where. I saw a member of Capt. Prugns company in Norfolk. He said Almeron was well a good many of the boys have been sick. I hope I shall see some of them now I brought my pillow along & my bunkmate brought the bed quilt. There is a magazine here that has never been opened and they are afraid to open it they think torpedoes are placed in it. The Gen. that is here commenced it once & backed out. Give my love to Willie & all the rest. Direct to Co. G. 148^th Yorktown, Care of Capt Griswold

           

Good bye

                       

Your aff Brother

C. E. Reed

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