H.Q. 169. Regt. N.Y.S.Vols

Camp on Folly Island S.C Aug. 22 1863

 

Dear Mother & Sister

                                    yours of the 9 was duly recd by me on the eve of the 21^st and I now hasten to return an answer to you I am happy to hear of the good health of you all and I am happy to inform you that I am enjoying the same blessing we embarked on transports at portsmouth and came to Charleston Harbor it took us three days and a half to make the trip we are now encamped on this island right on the sea shore where we have a nice fresh breeze blowing all the time and do not suffer any from the heat / I would like to give you a sketch of our duties here and a full description of the place all around this and morris Island but I cannot as we are not allowd to write any thing that would be of any information whatever to any one so you see that I cannot write a very long letter this time as I have no news of any kind to impart that would be interesting to you I hope that uncle william & Henry enjoy their visit there & I would also like to be at home when Cousin Mary makes her visit so that I might make it pleasant as possible for her but I have no doubts but that between you both you will find pleasure enough to pass away the time pleasantly even without me but I am well satisfied to stay here for I never liked soldiering any better in my life than at the pressent time / we have so much fun here bathing in the salt water twice a day any way there is something so atractive about a soldiers life that time passes without his knoledge of it now since I enlisted seems scarcely three months altho it is a year but for all that our Regt has done more marching than other in the service we have marched over 800 miles in the last six months and what do you think when I tell you that I have not spoken to a white woman in all that time I wish in your next that you would let me know something about the effects of the draft in that part for there is nothing that would give us more pleasure than to see a lot of those fellows down here that did not have courage enough to come in out of the draft if any of / them are lucky enough to come here we will make them stand around to pay for their rioting up there you spoke about sending me a box it is no use to send one now as it would not keep one half way here but when you do send it you would oblige me by puting in some thread and needles & think I will draw this to a close by sending my love to all my friends to Uncle & family and keep your own share from your Affectionate Son & brother

                                                                                   

James Caton

 

PS write soon and Direct your letter to me this

169. Regt. N.Y.S.Vols

Co D                Fortress Monroe V^a

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