Yorktown Va. Jan 2^nd /64

 

Dear Sister

                        It is awful cold here to night. Yesterday it commenced growing cold, the wind blowing a perfect gale. I was on guard I think it was the coldest time I have seen Virginia. Dec 31^st it rained hard all day wind blew from the N.E. that the mail boat from Fort Monroe could not get through. it started but had to put back. About a dozen of us watched the old year out. We threw in a quarter apiece and bought a lot of apples / nuts and cigars. We have got a large fire place, had good wood that night. I thought if you only could look in on us you could see some of the enjoyments of soldiers life. To night though it is very cold out. we make out to keep quite comfortable in here. I guess we have got ¾ of a cord of wood piled right next to the fire place. I got the paper you sent me containing camphor gum. Rec^d none from home this week I am bound to prepare myself and go to Washington and be examined for a commission [side margin: Confidential] shall try and be ready some time in March. You need not say any thing about it so that it will circulate I may fail in getting there or I may fail after I get there—"Nothing risked nothing gained" I wish I had that little book of Sam's Science of things Familiar. That has such a lot of general questions. A Capt went there to be examined for a field officer. They asked him among other things what caused the dew to fall He could not tell and got rejected.

 

A fellow by the name of Hutchins from Canandaigua is in with me He has sent for some / books. I should be glad to send Willie bottle of ink cannot very well, shall have to send him my best respects. I am much obliged to him for his letter. We have got a drummer boy that is not much larger than he but some older. He was on guard yesterday. he sat up nearly all night to beat the calls every two hours. I beat the drum once for him. He came from Geneva alone with out money too He likes soldiering very much. I think he has a kind of forsaken look though. I think John would like to work for Henry

                                               

Your Brother

Cha^s E Reed

SOURCES