In Barracks    

July 21^st/65

 

Sis:—

            I am writing you again from my new home and still like it very well as a barracks.

 

            I have been in the city several times since and of course I have turn to the historic spot of Bunker or rather Breeds Hill as we are allmost under the shadow of that splendid monument, two hundred & twenty one feet in height I gave twenty cents to enter it as everyone has, which goes to keeping the hill repaired. I was pretty tired before I got to the top of it there being more than two hundred steps / but reaching the top I was well payed for my walk for there is the best view of Boston & vicinity that is to be had any where. There are four windows at the top pointing N. S. E. & W. through which you have to look. You are towering above every thing you can see around and can see a great distance, even into N. Hampshire in which, from the west window, can be seen the Monadnock, Kearsarge and White Mountains. You can get a better idea of the form of the city from here than you would got in a long time by going through it. Boston proper presents, from the South window, a splendid view, swelling over Beacon's Fort and Copp's Hill and contains some beautifull buildings. It is surrounded with a number of towns, the largest Charlestown which I judge has a population of / of fifteen or twenty thousand. Then there is East Boston which in /32 had only one or two houses now is quite a large place and with the other islands of the harbor makes the fourth ward of the City of Boston. South Boston, Roxbury, Malden & Chelsea are all properly Boston, but are only conected to it by bridges. I have gone through but very little of the city and know but little about it yet. I spent the other evening in the Boston Museum the first place of the kind I have been in for two years.

 

            Since my last I have of course gone through the regular routine of July which is about the easiest here that have seen in the service, so I cannot complain as far as that is concerned. Our ration is the same as any where else in barracks but other ways there is every / accommodation except bath tubs which could be easly had and would be a great improvement. The post funds furnishes the barracks with several Boston & N.York papers so as soldiers we have not much cause for complaint. There is quite a number of men here waiting for their discharge off the Richmond and other vessels.

 

            My eye pained me slightly on Monday morning after leaving Harry, but I have not felt any thing of it since. The change of climate agrees with me very well so far. I have never felt better. When you write me again Sis, I wish you would let me know the number of our congressional district.

 

            It is just pleasant here now and I hope it may continue so. This is a beautifull evening. As the barracks is in Charlestown it will be more proper to address to me:

                                                           

Marine Barracks

Charlestown Mass.

 

Charley.

 

Miss M. E. Leaman

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