Boston Jany. 1^st. 1862

 

Dear Roscoe:

                        Howard writes that when they last heard from you you were coming down with the measles. If you are lying there in the hospital perhaps a letter would do you good so to-night I will write you. This is newyearsday and a buisy one to say the least it has been with me, taking an account of stock. I am glad we do not have to do that but twice a year for it is a hard dirty job, tonight my nose testifys to that. I am just getting over my annual cold, for the past three years I have had one at about this time that nearly used me up / Are you really down with the measles?  hope not but if they are in the regiment I don't see how you will escape them. How does it happen that they get into so many of the Me. Regts.? Do you begin to think a soldiers life is a hard one? I know I could stand it when without having the blues, when well, but this being sick in such a rough place is a little hard. I hope you won't be laid up long.

 

To-day I saw a gentleman direct from Hilton Head, Walker of Turner who went out as chief waggoner for the 9^th Me. He reports it quite sickly there, very warm days with cold damp nights. The 9^th has lost about 30 men since it left Maine The troops there are being drilled but little, are kept at work on the fortifications most of the time. According to all present appearances / Gen. Sherman is not the man for the place. Walker reported the 8^th as in any thing but good spirits, a forlorn looking regiment. poor officers is the great trouble, the same there as in every other part of the Army.

 

Mason & Slidel are to be given up. I don't believe that will suit Mr. Moore and a great many others too. Still I think the Government acted wisely in surrendering them, though we do not hold them, still we have gained a great point, have prooved that we are willing to do what we have always tried to make other nations do. It will be a damper on the South, they would willingly have given up Mason & Slidel, if by so doing they could make war between England and the U.S. It will anything but please those Englishmen who would like so well to pitch into us now when they think we have our hands tied. I am satisfied 

 

This mornings mail carried "Cecil Dreeme" to Abbie. you remember that is the new story she was wishing she could read. I hope it will please her. I received a letter from her a few days since. She was well and enjoying herself as well as she could. Also received a letter from Ham Ellis a few days since. He was well and at the old place, will come home in the spring if he can get his father to come. He wrote of seeing Flora Smith the day before he wrote that was the first that I knew of her being in Call. I wish we were in Buckfield to-night then we could say "happy new year" and mean it. This evening they are having lots of good times here getting presents &c

 

I presume you hear from home oftener than I do. I received a letter from Howard this morning. Mother was worrying about you. I do not wonder either, are you where you can have any kind of care taken of you? All were well at home. How good it would seem to make a few calls down that way. I have nothing new to write about concerning myself, with the exception of the cold am well. Georgia has not gone yet. I begin to fear she wont go at all. I shall not expect to hear from you at present but as soon as you are able write, I am anxious to hear from you. We are having an awful windblow here to-night, sounds like winter.                                        

In a hurry        Charles

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