Newbern N.C. Sept. 13^th '63

 

Dear brother Ro^s,

                        Yours of Aug. 12^th came to me this noon together with four others. You may know that I had a good dinner! Two of them were from home, one from Julia and one from Fred. I don't know when I have passed a pleasanter day. After Co. inspection a party of went down town to church, heard a good sermon and didn't have the "old hat" stuck in my face either. Saw some fine looking Northern ladies too. I tell you it did me good too! What a difference between them and the native women! Their cheeks were rosey, had an intelligent look and were dressed neat and tidy. Those of this place were slab-sided lantern-jawed ill dressed beings with no refinement whatever. I have had an introduction to some half a doz of them and don't care about going any farther. If I got very hard up and must have something in the feminine line, I should take a / colored girl for I have seen some who if white would be fine looking. Some of them all up and dressed, one came into the barracks the other day after dirty clothes, the boys thought they would have a little fun so began to ask about her husband, what night he would be away &c &c. The one who did the most of the talking on our side was a fellow about 40 years old and before he got through with it he was glad to back out. She in plain English told him that he was old and played out, that his ___ was all dried up, couldn't get it into respectable trim any way! It made even the deacons roar to hear her talk. I don't know what kind of chaps we shall be if we remain out here three years. Of all the tough stories ever told the toughest have been repeated in these barracks. Needn't tell me that the army need not be demoralizing, the best of men will change more or less. I own that I sometimes talk a little harder than I would at home, when I hear a smutty story. I sometimes tell one that I have heard but I have not got so that I love my regular whiskey. three out of four do love it and many of them will pay any price for it. I have taken many a glass of it within three months but it was like taking so much gall, 'tis quinine and whiskey or the / shakes in this country and of the two evils I choose the least. I stood out all last fall but when in the hospital I was obliged to take it and after coming out seeing the men coming down sick every day and those who refused the quinine the first ones I did not dare refuse it. Our head doctor is a fine old fellow and he says that we must take it at this season of the year or be sick, it not only keeps off the shakes but many other diseases. I am not on the track I started on but as I have got onto health I will continue. The terrible hot weather of the past summer with the heavy damp air at night has told on the health of our troops. At one time this Regt. could not muster over 125 men for duty. one day 21 were carried to the hospital and there was not a day during the month of Aug. but what more or less went. What few well ones there were had all they could do to do the guard and and furnish a doz. for picket. We have had far too much salt hoss for our good. it has come out on the men in sores, so much has the Regt. suffered that they have sent to N.Y. for a cargo of fresh provisions, hope they will arrive soon. I hardly ever touch the salt hoss now. half the time we get soft bread and I buy it for the other half. Good hard bread I can eat but that that is half / worms I will not eat as long as I have a cent of money. For ten cts I can get soft bread enough for one day. This with butter makes a good living. I sometimes buy condensed milk, 50 cts worth will make a gallon of quite good milk. We have to pay high for every thing we buy in this country, poor butter 40 cts per lb., cheese like a chip 30 cts., a tumbler of sauce (preserves or jelly) 50 or 75 cts, poor paper a ct a sheet and everything else in that proportion. We can get no good fruit at any price. potatoes are a rarity. I don't wonder that so many are sick, so much salt food in hot weather is enough to kill any one. It is now much cooler and the boys are slowly returning to duty.

 

            Mine of the 17^th Aug. was written from Ft. Spinola, two or three days after that a Co. of heavy artillery took our place there and we came back to the Regt. found it in good barracks near the city. The Ft. was a good place and I could have contented myself there a long time. However we are enjoying ourselves quite well, do not live quite so well as there for we cannot not now sell our swill and get a mess of something green now and then. By being at the Ft. we escaped three hard marches so we are satisfied.

 

            This Dept. is hardly know at the north but we still live and now and then stir up the Rebs. With nothing but a corporals guard Gen Foster can not do great things but he keeps his eyes and ears open and if he sees a chance to pitch in he does so. His little army has made four or five excursions into the country during the past summer and has inflicted more or less injury on the enemy every time. I am willing to remain here till cool weather and then I would like to be one of 20,000 men to scour every part of this state, with that force I think Gen Foster can clean out N.C. I don't like to remain too long in camp, idleness breeds mischief as you you would think could you see our officers at times, we have some good ones but many of them are drunken scamps. The rank and file of this Regt. is as good as can be found in any Regt. in the Union army but many of the officers are not what they should be. I contrive to get along with all but some cannot. Since leaving St. Helena I have been contented. Sometimes had to bite my lips but the time has passed quite pleasantly. I can't say that I have a great amount of patriotism but should I live I shall never be sorry that I served in the ranks. Had I waited a few weeks longer I think I could have gone as Q.M. Sergt. in one of the Me. 9 mo^s Regts and after that could have stood a good site for a Q. M's. berth in a colored Regt. That would have been much easier and paid far better but somebody must carry the muskets, the trouble has been in this war that none wanted to be privates. I have had to put up with much that / was cutting but I have lived through it and you can should you come home and enter the army. I wish I could see the thing close up without any more suffering but if we have not men enough all should enter into the work and close the thing up. It provokes me to see what a farce they are making of the draft, everybody gets exempted! One man has a sore toe and another has lost the end of his little finger. Our armies are all doing well and if they will only keep the thing up the rebellion will soon be used up. the Rebels will strain every nerve and we must do the same. Charleston is a doomed city, who is the Gen? Gilmore or Hunter? Actions speak louder than words.

 

            Father is doing well in N.S. but I fear the money will not last long I wrote to him while at Beaufort hoping that he would clean up every bill—store and all—get a little a- / head and then take life easy. He has not answered it. I fear he never will be out of debt. I have sent home $95. out of my first eleven months pay. I shall try to save 100 a year as long as I am in the army.

 

            Fred writes a long and interesting letter but his father is a Copperhead and of course Fred thinks he is right. I say as little as possible about our political affairs when I write to him. He has done me many favors since I left Boston. I shall always remember him. He has come down on the Tip Co. told them to pay him $600. or he would leave and as business was very driving they had to do it. he knew of another place he could get should they tell him to go.

 

Small has returned to Boston but will go back if he can get a berth that suits him. Abbie is now on her way to Mass. I expect. Don't be too hard on George, he take far greater interest in the farm matter than he used to / Abbie writes that they could not get along without, he is as steady as a clock and hardly ever misses his Sabbath-school. Encourage him if he is trying to do well.

 

            I wrote rather blindly when I spoke of Hattie. I should have done better had I said nothing. I had reference to the 40 Philbrick cousins, [?] Mel and that tribe. Hat is a good girl and was not consulted about her relations.

 

Mother looks upon my life a little differently from what she used to I think. at first it was hard for her but now she takes it more calmly. She is now making me a pair of shirts. I got a line from her to-day. I have a 10 ct stamp on hand so may as well use it up.

 

Will you come to our concert to-morrow night? We have them every few days, have some good musicians in the Co. Guess you will be tired by the time you have finished this. If you think it best to come home come and settle the war question afterwards

 

Write often                                                                 

 

Your Aff. brother            Charles

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