New Berne N.C. Sept. 12^th

 

My dear Abbie:

                        A boat came yesterday and will return to-morrow and will be anxious to hear from "the soldier boy" he will try and find time to write you a letter. This morning when the letters were distributed he came near saying that they didn't care anything about him at home for he didn't get a letter, most five weeks since he left home and during this time he has rec'd one short letter from there and you remember that Abbie promised to write every week. But I will not scold till I learn the reason why I have not heard from you oftener. I hope none of you are sick, or perhaps you mailed a letter one day too late to come by this mail. letters / mailed in Buckfield the 5^th would have come on this boat. I rec'd one from Frank mailed the 2^d and from that judge you all are well.

 

That "short letter" commenced Aug. 16^th is before me and the first words are "where are you to-night?" Probably at that hour I lay in the front part of that old boat first on one side and then on the other as the boat pitched back and forth the spray all the time beating over me. that night would have "sold out" for two cts. Though your letter was some time in getting to me I am just as glad to receive it when it did come and glad to learn that all were well. I continue as well as ever, have had nothing more than a days ill turn. I hope mother will not make herself miserable thinking of me as sick and suffering. Should I be so unfortunate as to be sick I should have good care taken of me. we have a good hospital here. But / I shall not be sick. the hot season has passed and now we are having fine Sept. weather.

 

I may not return the money to the Tip Co. 'twould do me good to do it but perhaps I better it pass. I have ordered things from Boston that will use up what I have to spare out of the 13 dollars I shall get next week and as I shall rec've nothing more for two months, then it will be most too late to do anything about it. I have good reasons to believe that they were well satisfied with my work but two cts. is big sum in the eyes of that corporation. I did think of enlisting in Capt. Emerson's Co. but finally decided not to do so. Tell Geo. that my brown coat went like the deacons one horse chaise, was good for nothing had it been I should have sent it home. Laura can have my picture but she must send me hers in return see that she does will you? And Addie has a small one and I trust will send hers too.

 

I have run over your letter and answered it as it came along and now I will see / what I can say for myself. I think I have already told you that I was well and my appetite is quite good, but not so good as I wish it was. our work is not hard enough, work hours enough, get about five out of forty eight to ourselves, but 'tis a lazy kind of work, don't give us a wood chopping appetite. I would like to go out on a scout scouring the country after signs of the enemy and now and then picking up a good fat turkey or a young pig just old enough to cook occasionally come across a cow and fill your canteen with good sweet milk. At night when we return we can eat let it be hard bread or soft bread. But I have no fears but what we shall have scouting enough before the war is over with. We are having an easy time just now but any day may be called away, a soldier knows not one night where he will be the next. Don't think from what I write that we are expecting to be sent away from here, probably ours will be the last Regt. that will leave, new troops may be sent here to take our places but we have heard of nothing of the kind.

 

The news from the North is discouraging enough and still we ought not to be discouraged, rather work with all our might send forward the men both old and young, show ourselves one half as much in earnest as the South are and we shall come out all right. I had many friends and /

SOURCES