Send to Charles Both of these

 

Fortress Monroe

April 17^th 62

 

Dear Brother

            I wrote you yesterday I will add a line to day the weather is very hot here indeed. Mercury up to 80 in the shade. Our house is right under the Fort just to the left of the Hotel as you will see by Wilkins print. there are lots of Niggers here, loafing round & the government has given permission for them to go away if they wish to & most of them had / rather stay here.

 

The harbour is now clear of vessels. Most of them at anchor outside for fear that the Merrimac will serve them as she did some others last week, but she does not seem to like coming out or does not intend to most probably she only shows herself out occasionaly to keep the gun boats here so that they will not go up to assist in the Battle of Yorktown, but at any rate she acts very strange.

 

            every day there is firing from the Fort & it makes our house shake & the shells go through the air with a terrible noise. to day just now, I saw the / shell strike 4 good miles from here at Sewell's Point I wish you could come out here & see with me why Washington aint a show along side of it. & perhaps you might get here in time to see the great fight that is to come off, but I can't say for we hear firing every day I think it has already begun. if you should come you will have to go to Genl Schouler & get a letter from him to the Provost Marshall at Baltimore & then you will be all right: say to him that you are to get the Company Arm Chest & other property to take home for Capt Ward says / he wants to send it home & you must have business with the Army to get here I saw Col Courtin & he says he will do anything for me that he can only draw it up & he will sign it.

 

Tomorrow I go to Yorktown to see the Reg. & expect to see something before I return Nims battery are here. I have seen them several times they are now getting aboard a ship to go to Ship Island I saw a review of 20,000 troops at Newport News & 4 batteries. write what you think of my staying here a month or two. in reference to our Company at home give Love to all at home

                                                                                               

yours affectionately

Alfred

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