Co. B. 1^st Reg^t Hancocks Vet. Reserve Corps

Cliffburn Barracks.                

Meridian Mill.           

Washington D.C.

Jan. 5 1865.

           

Dear Sister,

                                                It seems natural to sit down and commence a letter to you, as much so probably as it will to you to receive it next Saturday night.

 

            On arriving at Worcester Monday morning I found my transportation papers were not made out. So they told me to wait a while and they would go to work upon them. At noon they were not ready. The clerk said it was new business to him and he should have to study a while upon them.

 

At Three o'clock they said they were ready for me, so I took them and went off. But the clerk did not study long enough to get them right after all. / But it was too late to rectify it now without losing another day so I concluded to use some cheek and go on. The Norwich road will not be any the richer for having carted me over their road. Neither will the steamboat line to New York, all on account of the papers not being made out properly. At Jersey City I gave up my transportation and got through tickets to Washington, where I arrived Tuesday night at 11 oclock. I got supper at the "Soldiers Rest" and from there went to the Depot Hotel to stop over night. They showed me a room with two beds in it. It was a very pretty room and I felt very much pleased with my quarters but come to examine one of beds inside I was not pleased near as much. It appeared as if the last occupant had been suddenly taken "short". much too short, for he had departed leaving his card behind him. The perfumery he used was not "jockey club" though it was full as strong and scented the bedclothes thoroughly I concluded to not sleep there. I next tried the / other. this was somewhat cleaner than the other but I concluded to make an exploration in hopes of finding bed bugs, but 'nary' bug could I see, and I was upon the point of turning in when I caught sight of a respectable sized louse taking a quiet nap. I then made a little more thorough examination and found more of the little buggers lively as crickets and probably waiting impatiently for me to turn in order to bleed me. But I had no idea at all of furnishing them a supper, so I took off the blankets and lay down upon the carpet and went to sleep. Some time in the night the hotel keeper came up and routed me up. there were two cavalry sergeants with him that were going to occupy the room with me the landlord saw the position I was in and made the remark "Then you choose to sleep on the floor" Yes, I told him. the bed I thought would be too soft. The cavalry fellows did not seem to object to the beds at all though they could see their condition very plainly. In the morning I went to the State Agency and found where Hancocks Corps was, and rode up about half way there upon the Seventh st. horsecars / I stopped at Mount Pleasant Hospital to see Jo Wood but he had been discharged the day before and had just gone into the city. He was coming back in the evening and I left word that I would be back in the evening, but did not leave my name. a little after sundown I went there but Jo had come back packed up and left for home about an hour before.

 

I was mustered into the U.S. service yesterday for one year but not till I had passed another examination I told them I had been examined already, as we were going upstairs, but they told I had got to go through the "damndest" examination now that I ever heard of. So I stripped to the skin again and let them look me over After half an hour's examining, poking, jumping, and putting myself into all the postures possible they told me I was all right. The Paymaster came yesterday and paid the three hundred bounty to all except about seven men when the cash gave out. There has not but just two companies been mustered yet for this corps not half the men pass examination We are in good comfortable quarters the building being warmed with stoves. The second co. was organized to day. When you write direct to Co. B. 1^st Regt Hancocks Vet. Reserve Corps Washington D.C.            L.C.C.

 

[top front margin upside down]

 

I came away and forgot all my pictures tell Ma I want them sent on to me as there are opportunities. I also forgot my discharge papers, shaving soap, razor &c. rather absent minded.

SOURCES