N. Yard Washington April 13^th

 

Sis

            I received your letter dated the eleventh just at dinner, so this afternoon as I have nothing to do I will answer it. It is now just half past three Oclock of a very clear day and just warm enough to make it pleasant with the winter clothes on. we have had very good weather the last few days. I am still here at washington and that boat I mentioned in my last letter has left and I have a good reason for not going with her for there was no Marines went aboard of her. As I said before I do not think there is any chance for me geting away here for several months unless recruits come in to the Barracks very fast, which I think they may on account / of the draft, if there will be any. they are comeing in at the Barracks faster now than they have since I have been here. There is a man of war now laying at Phil^a which I would like to get aboard of, she will leave soon for the coast of Africa, I understand, but of course none of us knows for sertain where she is going but I think there is no doubt but she is going to some foreign station, but I do not think there is any chance for me, since I came down here which is all I dislike the N. Yard for, there is very little chance to get away, untill you are here a good while, as for the duty I would sooner be here than the Barracks, and maby it will be the best place I will ever get into for here I can have any thing I want. you can have a chest as / big as you like here and have any thing you want, and you get liberty once a week and oftener if you want it untill twelve Oclock at night. They are just now bringing up to the dock one of the blockadeing vesels from Charleston that came up last night and got aground down the river and they have just now succeeded in geting her off. I heard she brought the Capt. of the Keokuk wounded but I have not heard the certainty of it. She has been on the Charleston blockade ever since the war. as I wrote in my last, send me Jacks directions. I will now close as supper will be redy in a few minutes.

                                                                                                                       

Charley

 

[overleaf]

 

April 13/63

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