Camp of 5^th Ohio Vol. Inftry.

Bridgeport Ala April 12/64

after taps

 

My Dear Friend

                        I am about to say a few words to you and then bid you good night

 

I received your letter dated sometime in March (I forget the day) very glad to hear from you The Rg^t left Cinti. Mch 15^th and arrived here on the 26^th I was very much disappointed in the N^o of recruits we received. we got only about 200 and a lot of them deserted so soon as they got their bounty and furlough. Big thing this giving 173 dollars and a suit of cloths to every rapscallion that comes along and then give him a furlough to get away with it Every recruit received a bounty and was then given a furlough during the time the reg^t was on leave. The enterprising young bummers of Porkopolis could see the point and went in on the bounty pocketing business.

 

I have been going through a little mental calculation trying to find out how much Uncle Sam gained by reenlisting the 5^th but I find I will have to get a new rule to work by as all the old ones with which I am quainted brings him out second best. Of course we had a huge time in Cinti. The 5^th were the Lions of the town 

 

I enjoyed myself, but was disappointed in not being allowed to go to New York.

 

            All is quiet here. Gen^l Geary and our Co^l started to day in a steamboat with 2 guns and about 1000 men to go down the river as far as Decatur Ala and clean out the guerillas along the banks.

 

            Gen^l Slocum our old corps comdr left us yesterday for another command our corps and the 11^th is now joined and will be commanded by Joe Hooker and called the First, or twentieth corps

 

            I sent you a picture care of John and a historical sketch of Rg^t from Cincinnati.

 

            My health is good I am very busy the cap^t being on detached service I have all the work of the Company to do myself you cant imagine what trouble this reenlisting and reorganizing is for the last three weeks I have been wading through official biz until even my rest is disturbed by official nightmares, when vouchers, abstracts, receipts, invoices, reports, returns, general orders, and regulations come trooping through my dreams, assuming shapes of "Goblins Damned" and other "varmints"

 

remember me to all

                                               

Yours in a fix

James Clarke

 

Mr. E. Preston                                     

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