Charlestown August 19^th/65

                                   

Jack:

                                                I received your letter yesterday, and was somewhat surprised at seeing your handwrite and was sorry to hear the cause of it, but I trust Sis is not very bad or you would have mentioned it. In case she should get any worse you will not neglect letting me know.

 

            This is my second letter this week & of course I have nothing to say and would not write only I am ancious to hear of Sis. I wrote to Harry in the beginning of the week, I judge you have heard of it through him or this.

 

            As a barracks I have no / cause to complain of my presant situation. Guard duty is all we have to do and we are on guard one day out of three. drill three times a week from six to seven O'clock A.M. This makes our duty easier than any barracks I have been at or have heard of yet. so I was pretty fortunate in coming here. Our Officers are as good or better than I expected. Major M^cCawley is in command and he lets his subordinates know it or we might have a worse time, yet he is under the immediate command of Rear Admiral Stringham Cmdg. the Navy Yard which also works in our favor for the Major is very aristocratic and is inclined to be tyrannical, not as much so though I think, as when I was under him in Washington as Capt. He was then restrained by the Col. / Commanding and could not do exactly as he pleased. We get sufficient liberty for one who is not acquainted, in fact more than I care about. yet we only get it coming off guard so it not infrequently happens when you would like to have it you cannot get out.

 

            I do not see any opportunity now for getting to sea, for there are no vessels leaving here and I do not know of any from any other place. And from all appearances I think it is quite likely that, if nothing happens, I will be kept here untill my time expires. I should not like it very well to go on a foreign station now, for it would be a chance if I would not have to remain for one or two years maybe longer over my time which would be any thing but pleasant. If I could get out to where I would / have an opportunity of getting clear when my time is up it would be just what I would want.

 

            There seams to be nothing stiring in the war line and I suppose every thing is going on right or there would be plenty to make a fuss about it. What will come out of the Mexico affair it is hard to tell I hope though it may not come to blows on our part.

 

            When you write I would like if you would send me Bob Laverty's address, if you can find out what it is.

 

            I will now close hoping Sis may be well ere this. I have never felt better than since I have been here. I do not know of any sickness any where and there is none in barracks only common soldier complaints.

 

Charley.

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