In Camp near

New Market Va. Mar 31/62

 

Dear Mother

                        When I last wrote we were in camp near Alexandria. We left our camp on the 22^d Inst. went aboard during the night and sailed for Fortress Monroe the next day; it was a beautiful day and for one I enjoyed the trip very much; on our way down the river we could see the Rebel batteries which have been used to blockade the river: to all appearance they were very trivial concerns. I think they must have used some wooden guns to make us think they were well armed. We arrived at Fort M on the evening of the 24^th; after landing we march to Hampton to camp for the night; we arrived at our camping ground after midnight pitched our tents, cooked our supper, and then lay down for a few hours sleep early in the morning the bugle sounded / and after eating breakfast, consisting of some salt beef and hard bread we started for a new camp some two miles distant; we remained at this place all that day: the next morning we came here. You probably remember the circumstances connected with the burning of Hampton. This was a very pretty village of between two and three thousand inhabitants: the houses were built of brick some of them quite elegant; all that now remains of this once pretty place are a few blackened walls not a house remains; every thing of value the Rebels carried away: they were not content to leave a small cemetery but destroyed the fence and broke the stones; on a piece of broken stone that I found was part of the name of a man who was buried in 1701; It is very surprising to notice the difference in climate and country about here and about Washington; every where about W. it is very quite hilly and when we left quite cool while here in the / middle of the day it is quite warm, and I have seen violets and other flowers also peach trees in bloom; The country about here is perfectly level; I have been told that there is not a hill within 20 miles.

 

Where we are going and the force about here is not for me to tell but you may rest assured that you will soon hear from us, and it will be a good account when it comes

 

We have not had a mail for a fortnight; we neither get any papers or hear of any thing that is going on outside hope to get a mail on tuesday; when this will go I cannot tell perhaps tomorrow perhaps not for a week. in future you must not expect an answer to all your letters you need not be alarmed if you do not hear from me once a month as it will depend altogether upon where are about sending letters; as often as the mail goes you will hear.

                                                                                   

Charley.

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