(I expect we shall be paid off in the course of a week when I shall send Willie & Homer a button and perhaps some others.)

 

Camp Pendleton near            

Newbern, Nov. 26^th 1862

 

My dear Sister:

                        Here I am in my roomy room, tis six and a half feet long, two and a half wide at one end and one at the other, fifteen of us in a not very large tent. It is close work but we enjoy ourselves for all of that. there is something about camp life that nearly every one likes. We have a pleasant camping ground near by the woods. The camp is laid out in streets, Co D's is 2^d St. we have it laid out in style, far ahead of all others. Every morning it is swept clean and every thing put in trim.

 

            I think I shall like much better than I expected. In the city I had to go on guard / nearly every other day. now I go on about once a week. We shall have to drill more here than we did in the city but I shall have a chance to sleep nights.

 

We are feeling somewhat sad to-day through fears that we are to lose our Col. he has sent in his resignation and I fear that it will be accepted. Other Cols have been given brigades which did not please him and it was not right. When we were away on the expedition Col. Kurtz was left in command of the place and the night that we returned he, not knowing that acting Brig. Gen. Amory gave orders about the disposal of the forces and these orders Gen. Amory made light of. He (Amory) is one of the "regulars" so I suppose it is all right. If Col. Kurtz's resignation is accepted the Lord pity the 23^d. Our Maj. will then be Col. He is a good military man but cannot fight without his whiskey. on our retreat I saw him so drunk that he could / hardly sit in his saddle.

 

            While I sit here writing you are commencing preparations for Thanksgiving. after dark the boys will catch the chickens on which you are to feast on the morrow. the rasins will be picked over and laid one side lest they shrink badly. I hope it will be a pleasant day and you will all have a pleasant time. I shall be excused from duty and I hope have a pass to the city. The talk is that the gates are to be opened and the "cattle" allowed to run at large till such an hour as our Com. shall designate. If I go to the city I shall take dinner there and shall have a good one. If I remain in camp I shall get fried or roast beef and sweet potatoes, bread sauce, cheese and a pippin a piece of cake and a doughnut are still remaining. I think I shall live. that broiled salt fish will make a good breakfast.

 

I found the cake and pies rich indeed! 

 

You were highly complimented by the boys in the room, a part of it belongs to Hattie, the fried cakes and cheese went like hot cakes. If Hattie will forward that letter at once I will send her a picture for her album and of course a good-looking one. Give my love to her and tell her that when I return I will hire her for my cook.

 

            Yes Miss H. writes very good letters. I think I can keep her picture without soiling it so will not send it just yet. I receive nice long letters from Fred and quite often. The Tip Co. has just shown its generosity to him in about the same way they did to me. 'Tis the Goodyears, they are the meanest of meanness. I send you Freds picture, 'tis an excellent one. Also one taken for my friend Small but I should hardly know it, the ladies call him a pretty good-looking young man but no one would mistrust it by his picture.

 

I have not heard from Frank Thompson since I first came to Newbern. I have rec'd one letter from Ro^s since I came here, hope to receive another soon. I owe Melona a letter and will try and find time to answer it soon. I will finish my letter to Geo. soon. There is a slight difference between a school room and a shoe shop but he may do well if he gets with a good man. I hope a mail will come in to-night so that I can feast on 3 or 4 good letters to-morrow. All write.                                                                         

Charles

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