Am in a great hurry to-day—will take more time when I write again

Newport News Va. Nov. 17^th 1863

           

Dear Abbie,

                                    I don't hardly know long it has been since I wrote, several weeks any way, while you were in Mass. I hardly knew where to direct so did not write after the last of Sept. In the last letter from home (Mother's of Nov. 1^st.) they wrote that they were expecting you soon and by this time likely you are there. Have you had a splendid visit & were they all glad to see you? Did you meet with any that knew me? I shall expect a good long letter from you soon giving full account of the latter half of your visit. Yours written while at Mrs. Bearces I rec'd in due season.

 

            Here in old Va it is quiet and cool, have had some as cold days as any you have had I guess. But when packed away in our tents with a good fire in the fire-place we do not mind them any. Four of us just enjoy life in one of these tents as we now have them fixed. They are too small for stoves so we have built North Carolina fire-places—on the outside of the house they not taking up any of the inside room We find them quite cheerful and can cook any number of messes in them, stew apples, boil potatoes, fry cakes or meat and I don't know what all, we expect to live high while we remain here. I have just been popping corn, some of Willie's. I will pop him some if he will come and see me.

 

            A short time ago I rec'd a letter from Mr. / Small. He thinks of visiting in the vicinity of Buckfield and if he does says he shall pay my home a visit. I hope he will and that you will be at home. I think you will like him. He has considerable confidence in his own abilities and is really a smart young man. He has been out in one of the 9 mo^s Regts. and thinks of joining the Cavalry Regt. now being raised in Me.

 

            Roscoe I suppose is now on his way home where I hope he will arrive safe and well. I wish he was to be there to enjoy Thanksgiving with you. Are you to have chickens and plum pudding? I shall have to go without the pudding but may have the chicken, our folks are thinking of spending a few coppers for good things for that day, have our vegetables stowed away under the tent floor, are going to have some sweet potatoes for dinner, if you are fond of them come and dine with me.

 

            I rec'd a letter from Frank Thompson a while ago. He appears to like Mass. much better than Me. And I don't wonder, do you? What is there about Buckfield except home to make one wish to live there? I believe they grow more and more heathenish every year.

 

            Gen. Butler is now with us, where Gen. Foster is going have not heard—perhaps West or Southwest. He leaves many friends in N.C. and Eastern Va. I hope his farewell address to us will come out in the papers. It was good I tell you. I guess Butler will not do much fighting. The Rebs attempted to blow up the Roanoke by sending torpedoes down the river a few days ago but did not succeed. Their machines floated ashore near our camp and were destroyed. I have a piece of cord taken from one of them which I send to Willie for a trophy. Nothing in particular to write about and paper is high so I shall give you but a half of a sheet this time. I sent your letter in care of Mrs Bearce because I knew that Bearce would never think to give it to you should he get it. I don't know that I am greatly out with him yet, do not think he treated me very well. He can afford to own a nice house, keep a horse and carriage and live high but would not allow a clerk a fair salary when he was about leaving him to go to war. Perhaps I may forget it and perhaps I may not        

 

Write often      Charles

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