W H Gridley

 

Fort Mansfield Feb 25 63

 

            Dear Brother

I have not heard from you in some time and I thought I would write a few lines to you to learn if posable the cause I have sent money to you and have had time to hear wether you received it or not I begin to think that that there is some thing the matter but I hope that it is all right yet perhaps before you get this I will hear from you I was shure that I should get a letter from you to night when I came in camp but there was none so I thought I would write a few lines to you if I had not sent money in it I would / not thought any thing strange I will state the amount there was in it there was an allotment of twenty two dolars and twelve dollars in money and I sent five dollars by Joel sutherland I have never heard from either of them yet when you get this if you have not received the letter befor stated write as soon as you can so as to let me know about it the reason why I want to hear is this if the allotment is lost I can get another one but I hope that is not the case for I presume that it would be some trouble to get another but they say that it can be done so if mine is gone I will try and get another for there is no lost time here / it all goes on towards three years and so let every one work for themselves all they can that is my motto every man for himself here well I guess I will have to write on some other subject there is no great news at the present but I presume there will be in a short time just wait until the ninth art get under motion I presume they will make a great splash there is some great boys in this regt there has been some of them court marsheled one fellow sentensed to serve the remander of his time under guard and live on bread and water eighty days every year and the worst of all his pay is taken from him all but enough to pay for his washing and mending he is a poor man / and has a family his offence was this he drawed his bayonet at his capt he is a duchman and of a high temper there has been quite a number court marsheled all ready but his sentense is the worst of all ther is one fellow in our company that will be tried I presume his offence is greatter than the duchman but he was under the influence of licquor he drawed a loaded revolver at the capt and col and threatened to shoot them I think that they will be as light as possible with him he has been a good fellow in the company until he got full of wiskey I will have to close for this time so as to have something to write in my my next write soon direct as before yours truly    Edward Gridley

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