Suffolk, Virginia.

April 11^th 1863.

 

My Dear friend

                                    I have neglected you a long time, not because you had escaped my memory at all, but because I have had no time to write, and now I must be brief. We have just escaped going to North Carolina to reinforce Gen. Foster; Thursday morning we were ordered to get ready to move at a minute's notice, and like all military movements, it was a profound secret where we were to go. Yesterday, we were changed into Gen. Terry's Brigade, and ordered to be in line and ready to move at half past one, this was at 12 o'clock. Every thing was packed, and we had given / away our chairs and tables, and other household utensils, for we were ordered to have only one blanket and what baggage we could carry in a carpet bag. My trunk was packed and labeled all ready to send home, all my friends in Camp Suffolk taken leave of, part of the Brigade on board of the cars, when presto! an order—telegraphic—from Head Quarters at Washington, came for us to remain. We are menaced by 50,000 men under the rebel Gen. Longstreet. It is reported that the enemy, defeated at Charleston, and suffering from famine are about to wreak their vengeance and satisfy their hunger here. Last night a fatigue party of 4000 men were at work upon the fortifications about the place, and today an order has been issued, sending all the women and children here, North. All the male Secesh are in jail. I do / not think we shall be cleaned out of this place at present, at any rate we shall make a vigorous defence. I rec'd a letter from Mr. & Mrs. Holbrook about a week ago, and shall answer it as soon as I can find time, if you will say as much to them for me, I shall consider it a favor. Mr. North, who was here about two weeks ago, brought me word about the lively times, had upon Tyler St. this winter. I presume you were usually about. Lt. Bruce, who used to be a boarder at the Hotel de Giles, is here, Acting Asst. Adjutant General to Col. Dalton, who is in command of a Brigade. He calls upon me two or three times a week, and is much more agreeable, than he was at Lowell. He is 1^st Lt. of Co. B. 13^th N.H.Vols. He was in the battle of Fredericksburg. I may / not write you very regularly hereafter, but will always do so when I can, and shall always receive a letter from you with pleasure and hope you will not fail to write me as often as you can conveniently. Please give my regards to all inquiring friends. I shall try and send a letter to you when Salmon & Perkins return. Please find out who is the proprietor of P.O. Box 110 in the Lowell P.O. Tell Alice that I expect to hear from her by the 16^th inst.

                                                                       

Yours in haste,

Selwyn E Bickford

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