Yorktown Va. March 6 1864

 

Brother Sam.

                        I expected a letter from home to night but for some reason the mail failed to reach Yorktown to day and as I have got to go on guard tomorrow I thought I would write while I had a chance so Mother would not think I had forgotten home. Weather is pleasant yesterday we had showers with some thunder

Quite exciting times here last week. Kilpatrick force of Cavalry reached here friday night. I dont believe they accomplished half as much as the papers pretend I saw a carriage and mules 'twas said they / captured inside the fortifications of Richmond. I talked with one fellow who said he was in plain sight of the city. The Rebs had little to much artillery for them Rumors here this morning that our pickets had been driven in above Portsmouth All the Cavalry left here last night for there and the colored troops.

 

The darkies had got back from up the peninsula had not been in camp a half dozen hours when they had to start. It must have been pretty hard for them. We did not go up the Peninsula this last time I guess they will not start us again right / away for when we were gone before three or four cannons were spiked

 

I got my Post last week night it comes regularly. Almeron was here yesterday the boys are all well. Adams is well. One of our boys is taking on pretty hard to night because he had to go on knapsack drill for blowing his nose on dress parade. Perhaps you dont know what knapsack drill is. Well all you have to do is just to pack your k—k pull and strap on and travel for two or three hours or more as the sen as the sentence may be I hear that tomorrow the fellow is to be shot that / let Boyle out of jail so he could let the Rebs know about our raid. Our Regt will be part of the guard I expect and will probably shoot the traitor. I can see him shot with a good stomach

 

I rec^d two papers from H C Gilbert last night. One was a Tribune We take the daily, ten of us costs us about 25 cents apiece for two months. I guess I get the news as quick as you do at home

 

Caroline need not send any more pills right away. I have got two boxes unopened and part of the third.

I dont live on them.

 

Have not had much of a cold this winter. Good many of the boys are complaining of sore throat      Love to all. Has Willie got his picture

                                                           

Your Brother

C. E. Reed

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