[blue pencil: Gen Grant]

Fort Burnham Va.

Sunday, Nov. 27^th 1864

 

            Dear Sister

                                    I rec^d your letter Friday morning, was glad to hear from home again. I am back again to the old company, have command of it. There are only 21 present. the remainder are dead and in hospitals or on detached duty Of the 21 present, 5 are on daily duty, 4 present sick which leaves 12 left for duty with myself. I am acting orderly so have no picket guard duty to do. The boys have it pretty hard. They will go on fatigue in the morning at night go on picket and / stay 24 hours. are on every other day. The weather has been pleasant for a few days This morning is cloudy and looks like rain. I never enjoyed better health I guess I am about as tough as any of them. Thanksgiving we got some turkeys and nuts The turkey were not cooked our cooks boiled them. I never did care much about such stuff cooked in that way, cant say that they relished much with me Yesterday got some cranberries and apples. The berries were first rate. The boys got six apples apiece

 

I believe I can live on as little and poor living as any of them. Though if I have any thing good I can / dispose of it

 

Yesterday Maj Gen'ls Grant Butler Meade Warren & Weitzel two or three Brig's Gen's and a lot of citizens were here. One of the citizens said they were turkey men. I examined Grant's horse. The saddle presented by his friends through Metropolitan Fair was on his horse. Yesterday I received a paper from Mrs Brinley, temperance paper. Inside were selections from other papers cut out and pasted together My Post came last night Four Johnies came in last night some come in every night. The pickets in some places are about as far apart as it is from / from the house to the old barn, can talk together without any trouble.

 

We have news from Sherman that he has burned Macon I hope so. Willies shirts are very pretty. Send me a piece of mine. My butter is most gone. I have to let the other boys eat out of it it looks so mean to eat it alone where others are with you. Jim Allen & Dan Sanford are here. Dan was wounded at Petersburg had the top of his ear shot off. The ball went through the forepiece of his cap.

 

Andrew Lyon is at Fort Monroe tailoring. A tree fell on him at Fort Darling last May

           

I hope you will write often

                       

Love to all.

Yours Affectionately

Charles

 

[side margin blue pencil: close call]

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