Fort Norfolk Oct. 30^th '62

 

Dear Mother:

                                    The monotony of camp life is something that I have not yet been troubled with, as you may judge by the date of this letter. We that is the fourth division of our Regt., including Company E and K were sent here on monday morning last. We take the place of two company of the 19^th Wisconsin who have been some ten months doing guard duty in or near Norfolk. They have gone to Suffolk to join the fighting force while we are to guard their captives. I hardly know which duty is preferable I do know that we were sorry to leave the Regiment and they seemed to regret / the change as much. If they do not leave their camp they will have an easier time of it than we will, I am quite certain; notwithstanding the picket and guard duty that they will have to do. All that I am sorry for is that in our company the most of us have to be on guard every other day, instead of every third day as it ought to be. Don't be alarmed when I tell you that I have been in the *Guardhouse once before, since we came here, and am writing this there, about one O'clock A.M. If I can keep out two days, it will be as much as I can do. I calculate to make the best of it and charge it to Uncle Sam.

 

But I must tell you where Fort Norfolk or as its use would have it Norfolk Jail, is situated. It is on a point / from the north, about a mile west of the city of Norfolk. It is as beautiful a place as I have seen in the state. If you could be here for a short time you could not help saying so. Across the river and a little towards the east is a most charming point upon which stands the "Miami Hospital" a splendid four story structure built of stone & brick. To the west about three miles, as near as I can judge, lies Craney Island, upon which is a Fort of considerable importance. You may recollect that the Merrimac 2^nd took her station near this Island when she first came out of the Navy yard. To the right of this island and almost out of sight can be seen Fortress Monroe. To the southwest about eighty rods near the middle of the channel is anchored a gunboat, its name I have not learned, / Farther on, to the right and across the channel rests the hull of the frigate United States; run aground and destroyed by the Rebels. We have a fine view of all the boats that sail to or from Norfolk. The largest mail steamers run within forty rods of our wharf and sometimes quite much closer as they can come clear up. When we came here we rode over on an old barge towed by the propeller Com. Foote. Boats stop here every day, sometimes with prisoners. There are about 180 here. A good share of them are Union soldiers put here for disobedience or insult to officers, some for attempts to desert. One Negro is in the dungeon for killing a Corporal of the 99^th N.J. One white man is with him for breaking jail, it being an old offence. They are fastened down in the room by two heavy iron balls chained to their feet. To run is an impossibility with them. We have an important work to do to keep them in their place in the daytime, for they can walk upon the parapet from any point. We keep our guns loaded with the order to shoot them should any one attempt to walk up to the top and not halt at the first command. 

 

I will try to finish this letter on this sheet though I have enough that I could write on many more. Speaking of the Fort and the prisoners I will say that there is one female mail carrier here among the rest. She is confined in a room of the building used by the officers for quarters and a strict watch is kept lest she should try to escape. She has many sympathisers among the citizens around here and several have tried to see her. Two ladies came yesterday with passes from Gen. Viele, permitting them to pass our guards to the Fort. Lest you may not exactly understand the manner in which we do business here, I will say that no one is allowed to pass our guards without a pass signed by the proper authorities. Not very convenient for the citizens you see; but I will speak more concerning the system of passes hereafter. / The pass that these ladies had was not intended to pass them in the fort nor by the sentinel, and besides the Major in command was not going to do any such thing for them. The Major told them that "Neither a pass from Gen. Viele nor God Almighty would pass them in to see the woman". You will see that there is some decision about the Major, if he does express himself in a queer way. The Sunday morning before we came out here, I was out a short time with a picket guard stationed at Balls Crossroads, not the Balls Crossroads which you have heard so much about in the papers, that is west of Washington. It was my duty to assist in examining passes, so that I had an opportunity to judge of the system. The most of the passes that I saw were given to marketmen, poor whites and Negroes. They have passes called / market passes, allowing the holder to carry to market his produce, but not allowing him to fetch anything home. If the marketman wishes to fetch anything home he must get a special permit to do it. These permits are taken by the guard on the post nearest the bearers home. I will send home one for you to see. They are not given to any one who will not take the oath of allegiance as you will see. I say plainly I do not like the style of giving passes to any and everyone who takes the oath, and allowing them to pass anywhere through our lines. I believe that there is as regular communication to the Rebels, of all our movements as they can ask for, and there is no wonder in it. The system can not be a very pleasing one to the citizens as it is but I believe that things should be conducted more on the Rebel plan. / That is square, out and out, prohibition to pass the lines. If not able to live comfortably on what can be procured within the lines then let them suffer. There have been instances of men's being detected in carrying money and letters, and after a courtmartial, no I will not say that for after they were brought before Gen. Viele they were let at liberty and given another pass. One man is in jail here now who was taken the second time in carrying Rebel mail. I will say that it is the duty of every guard if he suspects treachery in the least to search whoever it may be, and it is the duty in case of the taking of a permit such as this one to examine the cart and see that everything is as the pass reads. But no more of this. I would write a few suggestions about home management but want of space and the fear of saying too much will as my excuse. I know that every thing can, if all parties are pleasant move off smoothly and happily. I will not ask for anything from home and if you have not sent anything already you need not do so. I feel now that somebody will make a fuss about it if my call is complied with though I wrote from the heart when I wrote. I am a soldier now and must not think to have anything like home comforts. The cost will surprise you.

 

I trust that I shall always be found with a heart for any fate that may befall me and I pray that no one will mourn if the fortunes of war prevent me from returning to my home. Without particularising, I send my love to all and ask to be remembered as Your Affectionate Son & Brother C.A. Gillet

 

[top margin upside down]

 

I have just received Missa's letter written the 19^th. Tell her that I appreciate it and will answer soon.

 

[written in ballpoint pen: *He was a member of a 3-part Military Guard which served for 24 hrs—1/3 of the guard serving an 8 hr shift while other 2/3 rested in the Guard House which was their quarters on duty. It was not a jail as nowadays. The jail was separate. (See letter of Russell Wright following this)]

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