Baltimore Md.
July 30. /65
Dear Sister.
I came to the conclusion that I owed you a letter as you will perceive upon receiving this.
Your letter I found to be upon examination very interesting indeed coming as it did at a time when a letter of that kind was very much needed I had borrowed a "five" from McKenzie a day or two before, and this coming from you enabled me to settle up before I had hardly made a commencement on Mc's bill
I go to the theatre occasionally and as there is any quantity of good things in the market in / shape of peaches, watermelons, cantelopes, potatoes, green corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, &c money as a natural consequence is very liable to melt away or at any rate make its disappearance in some way or other.
Tomorrow night the Holliday street theatre opens in the shape of a benefit for Ford of Washington. He has been rather on the lose since his theatre was closed after the assassination last spring and for that reason the proprietors of several theatres have taken this plan of assisting him in a pecuniary way as also to show their respect and sympathy for him Probably your humble servant will help to the extent of twenty five cents or such a matter
Well have you got back from the shore? Likely you have Did you have good times? You had rather more notice this year than you did last didnt you? What I mean is that you were invited twenty four hours before the time to start. Last year you did not have that length of time to get ready in did you?
I go to the shore every night But I do not go out of the house understand. We have a bathing tub here so that we can go in and wash all over and then we can sleep some when we turn in that is if the pesky bed bugs would let us alone The water comes into almost every room in the house, which is the best feature about the premises. My room is up two pairs of stairs / up high enough to get quite a view of the city. We also get all the air that is stirring. I am now staying with Laning as the non commissioned officers are by themselves. Laning is a packer too.
A detachment of the Second U.S. Cavalry relieved the 1st R.I. at this place last night and this morning they went away to join the regiment on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. they are to turn over their horses at the Relay House and will then go home I shouldnt wonder if Elton was at home next Saturday night. When we were in the Wilderness I received some steel pens from you. This is the first time I believe that have mentioned them, but I hope you will excuse me I use my gold pen altogether so I dont have much use for them. still I am obliged for the favor shown if not for the pens themselves
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I have had another Waverly too a week ago Friday
Am obliged for that and the favor too Lowell
Will you please send my chevrons if Ma can find them: roll them up in a newspaper.
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Respects to the folks over to Cooks
And at Camp Hayward.
11 Oclock and dinner is ready Am on guard again today