Camp Pendleton Dec. 29^th 1862

 

My dear Sister:

                        A spare hour this after-noon and I must make the most of it. Before me are two good long letters from you, they will bear reading more than once, all of Abbie's letters will. I wish all the soldiers had a sister who thought of them as often as mine does of me and such nice long letters too, you don't know how much good they do me! George and Howard can write good letters but they do not seem to be quite so thoughtful as you are. Mother has much to do but I read no letters with greater pleasure than hers. Father must remember that when I write home a part of it is for him. I hope he will find time to write me a good long letter some of the stormy days. What a difference between the weather here and at home! to-day it is pleasant and / warm. I sit here in my tent without any fire. At home it may be cold enough to freeze one and the snowdrifts are high. The boys are having fine times these evenings a sliding. I hope the road is hard and the runners smooth.

 

            And 1863 will soon be here! would that it could be a happy new year to the people of the once United States! Darker and darker grows the day! defeat after defeat! Are we to go down? must this once great nation sink into nothingness? I hope not but these are trying times for us all, and who is at fault? Are not our soldiers as brave as those of the South? I know they are. I have seen Massachusetts face to face with South Carolina and S.C. ran, but not till round after round had been poured into their ranks. Have we no generals? I think we have some good ones but too many cooks spoil the broth. I know of better way to express it. Did Gen. Burnside fight the late battle or was it done in Washington? / A ship captain steers his vessel according the weather and the place he is in, he cannot go by any stated rule. It is the same with the commander of an army, the farther our armies are from Washington the better success they have. The Lord only knows where it will end.

 

            I can say "yes" to all your questions about the cakes, the pies, the butter, cheese and many other good things, no better box ever went to a soldier, all his wants were supplied. I know not how I shall pay you all for your kindness. You speak of sending me another box soon. I wrote that you need not send it till you again heard from me. I presume this will be our headquarters for some time and I think I could enjoy a box from home, but it must not be so large as the other, not more than half as large, pack the things snug. I shall leave it mostly with you. Could you send a few sausages? I imagine they would taste good. I am very fond of fried cakes! good sweet butter is nice with soft / bread while cheese goes well with crackers. You need not send any dried apples as I have no good chance to cook them. don't try to send too large a box. And while I am on business I will give a few directions about the money which I am about to send home. I shall send $16.00 home and a little to Fred. you may receive a package from him. 10 of the 16 dollars goes to father for that 10 that I directed him to give to Melona, 2 to Abbie, a half a dollar to Howard and a quarter each for Willie, Homer, Tommy and Charlie. You may give Melonas children the money or buy them something with it. The remainder, $2.50, I give to mother, she can do what she pleases with it, if she thinks Melonas children need a new frock she can by them one. I have passed over George, he is earning money and must not feel slighted. When we are again paid off I may send something to add to my pile but this time I wish to remember you all in a small way, wish I could do more for you. I have saved all the money I shall need here till next pay day.

 

            You speak of my officers and ask if I do not like them. On the battle-field I want no better Capt. than mine, he is cool and brave, but in camp he is too strict, has not the good will of many of his men. I never have had any trouble with him, would not exchange / him for but one other in the Regt. Still he does not use his men just as he should, does not try to make things pleasant about camp, has but little to say to his men when off duty. Our Maj. would be a fine fellow were it not for whiskey. he is the Regt. and when he get drunk it hurts us all. A part of the other Cos. have good officers and a part poor. I think they are as good as they will average, all but one behaved well in the late battles. But we miss our good Col. "John" was a good boy, John Kurtz I mean. Our Maj. says we have a tip-top chaplain. while at home last summer some one remarked to the Maj. "you have a fine chaplain". yes replied he, "a fine chaplain, never gives us any trouble, we see him but once in two months and then it is on pay-day", and it is about so, he is a good man but not fit for an army chaplain. To sum it all up I like the Regt, its officers are as good / as they will average and the men are not afraid of bullets, that they proved at White Hall. There are many men in my Co. whose friendship I value but I have no very intimate friend and again I have five or six but no particular one. I like as well as ever but with the present state of things in Virginia I cannot say that I am contented. I wish to feel that we are accomplishing something, our recent expedition was very successful but we cannot end the war, the work must be done in Va. I am glad that my friends at home think of me so often. I have a spare photograph which I send to Ellen. I wish her lot was an easier one. I have been thinking I would write to Hatt. but I find no time, now have a half doz. unanswered letters. I will send that picture in this letter, of course I shall get a nice letter in reply. give my love to her, wish I could get into her father's / apples. I would make sad havoc among them. Christmas eve made one think of home. we had apples & popcorn, no I am mistaken, it was since Christmas but we had the corn and apples anyway. they came from the North. Yesterday we had a steamed pudding for dinner and a good one it was, cost one dollar and made a dinner for twelve of us, the number in this tent. we are going to have another one soon, bound to live high while the money lasts. Of late our living has been a little hard, salt hoss and hard bread much of the time. to-day we had fried beef & potatoes, it was a good dinner.

 

            Does the school continue pleasant? and the Philbricks as interesting as ever? I envy you your lot!

 

            My friends in Boston and vicinity are well. Miss E. is well, she is now attending school. I rec'd a very interesting letter from a school-teacher in West / Randolph, you have her photograph, Miss Rouel. I tell you it was a sensible one. she is a fine young lady and as lively as you please. the young man to whom she is engaged was badly wounded in the last Bull Run fight, he is now in Boston. I have not heard from Georgia for a long time. Frank Thompson has forgotten me I guess. I have not heard from him since he left Me.

 

Are the young people of the village well. you must miss Nancie & Hatie, Laura & Addie have not changed much I guess. Who teaches the village school this winter? How does George like his business & boss? I saw his friend Merrill a few days ago, I like him much.

 

            Are you not almost alone this winter? Hattie away teaching, I should think you would be lonesome. Do you have lots of popcorn and apples these evenings. I can see you feasting over both, don't make yourself sick.

 

            I must write Willie & Homer a letter I guess. I hope Willies sled is still good. I wish I could see them both this evening, both must be good boys and help Mother all they can. Does Homer remember the time he pulled the bowl of milk over onto his head? I suppose he is too large to play with the cat. I sent them some N.C. money in one of my letters.

 

            Remember me to all the neighbors and to all friends at home, lots of love to all in the good old farm house and a kiss for you.

                                                                                   

Charles

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