Fortress Monroe V^a                            

March 21^st /62

 

Mother            By the above you will see that we have made another move We left our camp at Alexandria on the 17^th and went aboard of the "Elm City" Heintzelman's Smith's M^cCall's & I think Blenker's divisions in all about 100,000 came in the fleet with us. Our reg^t and the 87^th N.Y. together with the General and staff were on the Elm City (the flag ship) We were aboard two days & two nights. I was not sea sick in the leastest (as old Nocksy says) but it was not so with some of the rest. The first thing which took my eye at the fortress was the union gun and the Sawyer gun The little monitor is skadaddleing about in the bay. The rebels call her the Yankee cheese box. When we landed it was raining a little and we had to sleep out on the field with nothing to cover us but an oil-cloth blanket / out side, and our government blanket next to us. After dark it began to rain heavier and about midnight I awoke to find myself in a puddle of water 5 or 6 inches deep but my oil cloth did its duty well. I was not a bit wet except on the head & face into which the rain pelted like fun. however not liking my quarters I took up my bed and put for a cavelry stable about ¼ of a mile off where I found things much dryer and wrapping myself in my blankets I lay down & slept to "broad day light". The boys down here were very kind to us I think I shall mind one of the 16^th Massachusetts as long as I live. On the evening we landed just as we were making a little fire I was off in the brush getting an armful of wood to put on the fire. I met a [faded] with a camp kettle full of sage tea and giving me a tin full he said "this will keep you from catching cold" adding as he put off, "You poor devils will have a tough night of it."

 

I am writing this in a stall of the cavelry stable in which I have my quarters. But living in a stable wont make me a horse!!! 

 

            There were four gun-boats accompanied us during our voyage but didnt have any thing to do. I liked my sea ride fine but from the actions of some I guess they would rather been on shore.

 

            Well this aint much of a place to write and I dont know whether you can read what I have written besides I have given you the "heads" and it is useless to give a detailed account of things in a place of this kind.

 

            I am well and in good spirits. Curt Emery Jim Bell & Morrow are with us they came just in time to come with us.

 

            You must write as soon as this comes to hand and direct to

Co F. 57^th Reg^t PV

2^nd Brigade

Heintzelman's division

Fortress Monroe Va

 

There are more darkies                                   

here than would                                                          

populate a State. You                                                  

should have seen them                                                           

show their ivories                                                                               

when we landed /

 

I have Lizzies likeness with me yet it is as good as ever. I keep it pinned in my needle case.

           

As I never was good at building a letter I will bring this to a focus and stop; hoping you are all well.

                                               

No more, your Son

Joseph D. Baker

 

Susanna Baker.

 

P.S. If you wrote to me any letters which I did not get prior to the 17^th they will be forwarded; so keep yourself easy about that matter.

J. D. Baker.

 

Give Uncle's folks my [faded]

 

I wrote uncle a letter the day or so before I left camp Jamison. do you know if he got it?

 

for Mother.                        

SOURCES