Newbern N.C.

August 13^th 1862.

 

Dear Mother

                        Rec^d yours numbered 11 and 12 yesterday as also Franks letter which was not numbered. The picture was not as good as you see at home for they dont pretend to take them Extra—Then my hair was coming out especially at the temples so that it looks I suppose like porcupine quills. I look a great deal different now, hair clipped short to my head & face shaved all over. If I had any money just now Id have another taken to let you see how different I am. I am getting better now fast, having nothing particularly the matter but a touch of rheumatism in my leg which I dont mind much. Weigh 125 lbs now—if I go on gaining shall be up to my old weight before a great while. What made you think Frank Lee did not belong to our Company / He was 5^th Sergt when he went home Now 4^th, as our Orderly has been promoted he will be now 3^rd Serg^t unless the Capt takes it into his head to make him Orderly which I wish he would do for all the boys love him. You wouldn't have caught any of the other Sergeants coming to see you they are to big for it. About that White Mountain vest just look at the picture I had taken in the White Mt. rig and see what vest it was—Aint I right?

 

I enclose a story for Tommy I came across in one of the papers that came in the last mail. I thought it was so natural I had quite a laugh over some parts of it. I dont think this giving high bounties at home is exactly fair. They have been at home hanging off till the last minute and all they volunteer for now is because they may be drafted and if they are they lose every thing a Volunteer gets. We have / done all the work and they get all the advantages of waiting. However I am glad I am not in their shoes I should feel pretty cheap.

 

So Bill Parsons is coming out here. I wonder if he is coming for our Company. if he is I pity him for such a set of "poppycock" officers both Commissioned & Non Commissioned I should like to get out of it—I dont care about a discharge I wouldn't take one if offered except as it would gain me a better position somewhere else. The Officers of the new Regiments at home they say are to taken from the Non Comish of the old Regiments but that dont give Privates a chance no matter for the qualification You speak of sending a box We have preserved milk out here called condensed milk as also coffee the same in tins. The milk is combined with sugar, pretty good. The tins of meat will be just the thing—the next chance you have I wish you would send / some a bottle or so of Harrisons Sponge Blacking for leather harness &c to put on my equipments—the boys put on common blacking and when it rains it is apt to run on to the clothes. About the best thing to send out here is some of Brown & Prices Concentrated Lemon with sugar to sweeten. first rate to keep off scurvy. Send me some Worcestershire Sauce too it makes even salt junk eatable. The Orderly of Co. C. was recently promoted to 2^nd Lieut. Day before yesterday he came into his quarters & drank profusely of ice water. He died in one hour from the time he came in. Yesterday he was buried it is the first death (natural) of an officer we have had to record. Love to all hands I am going to write the full name to see how it would seem.                         

 

Yr Aff Son

Will S. Cook.

 

Mrs. E. A. Cook

Salem

Mass.

[margin]

 

P. S. I forgot to say that I also wanted some emery cloth not emery paper we are allowed that by law

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