Fort Scott, Va. Nov 21^st

           

Dear Friend

                        Your kind and interesting letter of the 8^th inst was received last evening and found me nearly played out (to use the soldiers expression) I came of gard in the morning with a severe headache and lay down thinking that a little sleep would do me good, but there was so much noise that I could not get to sleep, and when your letter was handed to me in the afternoon I was feeling so bad that I could not read it any further than to find out that you were well. But this morning I am feeling as good as new. this is the only time that I have had the sick headache in a long time and aside from that my health has been good since I wrote you last. The weather has been pleasent most of the time. there / was quite a snow storm hear on the 7^th larger than any one that we had last winter but the warm sun of the two following days melted it all off since then it has been pleasent untill this week Tuesday when it comenced to rain and has continued cloudy & rainy every since with no signs of its ever clearing off. We can keep very comfortable hear if it is stormy or cold but the troops that are on the advance & are mooving every day must be having rather dreary and uncomfortable times. I know how to pity them for we have been in the same situation

 

The removal of Gen McClellan from the army of the Potomac has caused a goodeal of loud talk & hard feeling in the army and will I fear lengthen instead of shorten the war. yet Burnside is a good man and may make a good General but sofar he hasnot done anything that would entitle him to the position that he now holds for all that he and his men acomplished / last spring was due to Gen McClellans planning & Gen Burnside reported so to the war department. But we must only hope for the best and I for one shall not condemn Burnside untill there is a cause

 

The 19^th C.V. still continue to stay at their old camp near Alexandria doing duty in the city. they have lost seven men by death since their arrival hear. Our regt hasnot lost a man in the same time but there is a member of Comp K sick with the small pox that will probably die this is the first and only case of small pox that has ever been in our regiment.

 

The regiment that W^m B. Ford is in crossed Long Bridge & encampt one night in sight of us but I didnot know at the time that he was in the regiment or I should gone over & seen him

 

Now Emma as it willnot be convenient for me to be home on Thanksgiving day you will please eat enough chicken pie / roast turkey, plumb pudding &c for boath of us, for you know that there must be about so much eaten on that day by somebody and if I cant do it then of course somebody must do it for me

 

            Our time of enlistment will be half out to morrow so that we shall soon be on our last half and then I think that time will pass away much faster than the eighteen months that have past have

 

Now Emma as I dont think of anything more to write I will close. I am glad that you had so pleasent a visit with your friends in N.Y.

 

            Please write soon        Direct to Alexandria, Va as our letters all come through that office now instead of Washington

 

To        Emma                                                

From               Charlie

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