Oct 3^d Camp of 50^th Reg't N.Y.V. Eng'rs

Rappahannock Station Va.

 

Dear Parents and Relatives                                                                                        

                          I now seat myself to pen a few lines to you to inform you that we are as well as usual and I trust this note will find you enjoying good health. Yesterday was not friday for it rained like fun all day long and we had to stick close by our little 6 by 7^s to keep any ways comfortable at all and then could not keep entirely dry for the rain would soak through in places thereby rendering it very uncomfortable It is at such times that we think of home and a bright kitchen fire and good dry beds at night but we are soldiers / now and can endure almost any thing with out a murmur and take it all in good part laughing and hurrahing telling the boys to get under cover and put their windows down and take their chimneys in and prepare for a siege. Though the weather is dull the boys are in fine spirits and go in for the consumation of Hard Tack with a right good will

 

            The other day one of Co F boys was drummed out of camp after having his head shaved and a letter D branded on his right hip pretty well aft His crime was desertion when in face of the enemy He pretended that he got awful drunk and went away not knowing what he was about and did not come to his senses / untill he was caught which was some ten days afterward and now pleads insanity but it would'nt go down. He tried to get the Capt to plead his case but Walker told him he had better leave it to the mercies of the Court and I guess he did He was as bad off as Pat was in his dream for when he searched the whole Kingdom of heaven and could'nt find a lawyer and so had to submit his case to the powers that be I have not time to write much more this time for the mail will soon close. My last postage stamp will be put on this letter and there is none to be had here for love or money. Please send me some in your next letter and oblige your son Charles. W

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