Yorktown Va. Feb 21^st 1864

 

            Brother Samuel.

                                                I received your letter to night and was rather surprised to hear that you have not heard from me. I guess one of my letters must have been lost. Looking at my diary I find I wrote Jan 31^st, Feb 10^th & Feb 14^th probably the two last came tuesday night or since. I wrote that I wanted two pair of drawers for fear that that letter failed to reach you I repeat it here. Mother can send me whatever she chooses in the provision line. We were paid off last monday. I shall send ten dollars home it will pay for the drawers and freight on the box I guess 

 

We have had the coldest weather last week I think we have had this winter. It has moderated now. My this weeks Post has not come yet. Friday & Saturday night we got no mail. the Baltimore boat was frozen in. It may come along tomorrow night. I have not the remotest idea of taking up a residence in Dixie, dont like the country well enough for it I hardly know what to do about my going to Washington it is such a job to get ordered there. if I thought the war would ever end I would give it up. If a fellow gets in there he is stuck for five years unless he could resign and that is pretty hard business now in this department.

 

I think Adams would if he thought he could. He is kind / of a two sided animal. [side margin: Confidential]  He pretends to be antislavery but he wants to keep the niggers ground down and is awfully afraid that they will be put on a level with white men. He thinks ($7) seven dollars a month is enough for a colored soldier. He is to tight to enjoy himself I think and a bigger old maid you never saw You need not say any thing about this. He has got one good quality and that is shoulder straps dont stick him up a bit. We are first rate friends. Our company is enlarged by an addition of eleven recruits one of them I should think was sixty years old. He says he is 44. It dont seem as if we were ever so awkward 

 

Co "A" is detached and going to W'^msburg tomorrow morning We were actually ordered to Getty's Station and Gen Wistar got the order countermanded no matter where the 148^th are they get a good name and they want to keep us I wish we had gone. it is only about two miles above Camp Folger where we were stationed last winter. I went over to see Almeron yesterday but he was on picket. His company is encamped only about three miles from here.

 

I have got picture I am going to send Willie. He must take good care of it. What kind of an animal is that sorrel colt going to make is she going to a great raw boned slab sided thing Does her head grow any smaller

 

Enclosed find ($10) ten dollars

 

Love to all,

Hoping this will reach you

           

I am every

Yours Aff'ctly

Charles

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