Key West

Dec 11^th 1862

 

My Dear Brothers & Father

we have arrived safe so far on our way & you can judge how astonished we were all to find when 24 hours out on opening our sealed orders that we were bound to Ship Island instead of Fortress Monroe all the boys felt glad that it was not James River, only they have not come in for so long a trip the first 2 days was very rough & all were / sea sick, but since that we have had very fine weather & arrived here at 5 PM this afternoon making a very short trip only a week tomorrow & we shall get to our trips end in two days or so. the weather is very warm here. I am writing now at 9 eve in my shirt sleeves & sweating at that. one of the transports was lost day before yesterday about 80 miles from here. it was the M Sanford you know her well. She had the 162 N York Reg on board but all were saved

 

Poor Albert is in another boat & I miss him very much so do all on board / & he is often spoken of I fear he will be sea sick & it is too bad that we are separated but all will be better for him I hope as he will not be so exposed as if he were with the Reg but may be ordered back again on his arrival this is a real Southern place & everything looks green. they have green corn & peas here. Fruit of all kinds eat we do not know where we go from Ship Island nor how long we stay there but will write you soon. we take in coal & water here & leave in the morn at 4 oclock. there / are several steamers here, all full of troops & I expect to find a large fleet at the Island our steamer is a fine one we live high all the time full as good as at the Hotel say American House, at one dollar per day. the men are mostly crowded but live well although they do not think so, but will when they have been in the field a month

 

            Love to all at home write often direct to Gen Banks Expedition & all will come safe

 

write often                                                                  

 

good night

yours with Love

Alfred

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