Fort Tillinghast Jan 27/63

 

My dear Friend.

                        As I had a few spare moments I thought I would improve it by writing you a few lines to let you know that I am well and hope these few lines will find you the same.

 

            It has been a very rainy day to day and so we could not work on the forts that we are building and I do not think that it will be pleasant for a long time as it is just the season to rain.

 

            The soil of Virginia is mostly clay, and so you can tell how hard it is to walk 4 or 5 miles every day to work with mud in some places ½ a foot deep / but as we are building the forts we have got to go to work whether it rains or shines. The fort we are building now is to be the largest one in Virginia and it will take us about 6 weeks to build it. There is about 650 men to work on it every day.

 

            There was one of the boys of Co. F. when he got paid off went down the river some wheres and got 365 bushels of oysters he was gone one week and when he got back the Colonel told him that he must give up the oysters or be Court Martialed for deserting for if a man misses more than 3 regular roll-call he is called a deserter, but he chose gave up the oysters and the Colonel divided them amonst the / regiment and to night we had an oyster supper.

 

            Last Sunday we presented our second Lieutenant with a handsome sword and and equipment costing $38.00 he came out as orderly Sargent of our company and was promoted for good conduct.

 

            Our regiment has been ordered to report to Fort Warren but I hope not for I do not want to go home until this war is ended.

 

            I can write no more at present as it is nearly roll call so I must close by bidding you good night

                                                                                   

From your affectionate friend

Horace B Gardner /

 

(P.S.)   I hope you will please excuse me for not writing before as we have been very busy since we came back from the advance.

                                                                                   

Yours

Horace B. Gardner

 

Horace B. Gardner

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