Warrenton Va.

Aug. 21. /63.

                                   

Dear Sister.

              I am writing this week rather earlier than usual on account of certain circumstances or circumstance rather, which has happened this week. The Paymaster appeared to us on Monday and on Wednesday he got around to our regiment. We are now square with this U.S. Government up to July 1^st My pay was seventy five dollars, seventy of which I have placed in the hands of the State Commissioner, receiving for it a check payable to the order of one Olney Cook which I will enclose in this letter to you which please hand over to him and oblige your most obedient servant &c. 

 

We are going on patrol in the morning which is the reason of my writing before Sunday. I thought there might be such a thing as losing the check you know, and that would be rather bad, though the money might be drawn the same for all that.

 

I went out to the picket line last Monday afternoon and staid till the next morning when the company were relieved. myself and two others in the co. got into considerable business that night while out foraging green corn. there were two cavalry provost guards at the house close by where we were getting corn and it seems we did not keep so still as we might at least we did not keep so still but that they heard us and thinking us guerillas took to their horses and came inside the line of pickets, alarming and bringing with them all the other provosts in their way. This all was made known to / the officer in charge of the pickets, and in consequence new posts were sent out and orders to keep a sharp look out were given. There are guerillas all around here so there was nothing wonderful at all in the provost getting alarmed. they would not have been harmed but their horses and arms would have been taken, and for this they concluded to come inside. A lot of substitutes (sixty in number) for this regiment arrived here last Monday. seven are for this co. they are a good looking healthy set of men and have I believe seen service before. they brought "dead heaps" of money, and are making it fly. I tell you. One that was assigned to co C deserted before night and one in co I. left yesterday. ten of their number jumped overboard on their way here, when it is said they were five miles from shore. they ought to be good swimmers or they would be apt to get wet and catch cold. / they understand how to drill and are if anything better disciplined than ourselves, as far as discipline in camp is concerned. I read in the paper before your letter came that the lightning had been playing around a number of buildings in Mendon and that old Sara's barn had been entirely destroyed. wont that make her pocket ache somewhat

 

Your letter brought me a sheet of paper which you see is not going to stop in Va. long, and four postage stamps. I had just one on hand when they arrived. I shall put this in my last envelope. Have you ever thought my letters looked as though they needed washing? I guess you have. the envelopes all got stuck together in the stormy weather we had in Md. and Penn. and water had to be used to open them. I shall have to depend on Sally for a few more. paper I have in abundance I bought some today 25 cents per quire. quite good paper I will send you a sample in about a week. Ask Mr. Cook if he had rather I would send him Greenbacks instead of a check and have them come in the mail.

 

[upside down and side margin]

 

It is commencing to thunder I guess we are to have a little rain Friday night half past 8. Yours Truly Lowell Cook Cleveland Cook.          

 

good night

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