Camp in the woods 12 miles from Richmond Va

June 8^th, 64

                       

Dear Parents

                 I an now going to scribble a few lines on this half sheet of foolscap that you sent me and which was received on the 6^th I have no news except to tell you we are all as well as usual and I hope this may find you all the same. The mail has just come in camp and we received another letter bearing the good news of all well at home nothing finds a better welcome than good news from home Our mail comes regular every other day now and goes from camp every other day so you see it goes out one day and comes in on the next We are having very easy times now a days and this forenoon I took quite a long stroll from camp with Hice just to see the country around us you know and we had the good luck to find a few ripe cherries which were eagerly devoured though they were bitter enough to make a pig squeal and yesterday afternoon we had the good luck to find a few mulberries I dont know as you have ever seen any I think them excellent eating but there are as many to pick them as there is berries and I had ripe strawberries over two weeks ago and I took a few pods of green peas from a planters garden over a week ago. guess you have not had any of these delicacies yet this season have you. still the chances / that we have for getting fruit are quite rare indeed. The only trouble is we cant get enough to keep us in good healthy condition but I guess we will get along for the sutlers are coming around again and we will get now and then an extra bite from them but their goods taste and smell awful rank of Greenbacks Lemons are two for 25 cents and I have paid as high as 75 cents for cheese one single pound only. I could have bought some for 50 cents per pound to day but did not. Condensed milk is from 75 cents to $1.00 per can Butter is one dollar per pound. The cans of condensed milk hold just one pint. a small paper of matches costs five cents such as you buy at a penny a piece Pickled peaches $1.00 per can and the cans dont hold a quart Linen shirts four dollars a piece and everything in proportion for my part I cant see how the Rebel soldiers make a live of it where things are so very high and their currency so poor while their wages are no more than ours. We are now about four miles in the rear of the Army and are with the 2^nd Corps trains. Companies B and F are with Major Brainard out to the front building gabions and fascines and chopping down timber and building roads and making themselves useful generally

 

My sheet is nearly filled so I will soon have to close P.S. if you have not got any better paper than this I will send you some. I have written this on my knee and dont know as you can read it if not let me know in your next The health of the Co is good there is only one sick man John F. Malette He was taken to hospital yesterday No more at present so good bye From Charley

 

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Enclosed is a leaf from a species of wood called "Holly" which is quite abundant here

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