Continued

fare and it onley needs a little butter or something of that sort to make it go nicely. I like our living better than I did in Portland—the hard bread is much better here than we got there.

 

            They have established a brigade bakery near here for our brigade and we may possibly get some brown bread by and by. Dinner is ready and I will stop and eat. After devouring my share of fresh beef soup for dinner I resume writing. You wanted to know what I thought about a paper. I would say in answer, let mother pick it out, for I have every confidence in her ability to pick out a good one.

 

            Oscar Tucker received a letter from a fellow in the 27^th Me Regt which stated that they had been paid off, but they are in Banks division which is going south, and they might be paid off sooner on that acount. At least I shall not look for my pay very soon and I should not / be supprised if we were not paid off but once before we are discharged. Marion Holman received a letter from his brother in the Cavelry who said they had not been paid off for five months.

 

            I write this that you may not depend uppon it too soon. I have not written so to send this week as soon I should have been glad to for I have been buisy in answering letters from others, what opportunities I have had, which have been few but I will make this long enough to make up. This will not go out before Monday so I shal take time to fill it up. I have told you how we live now perhaps you would like to know how we work. We turn out at 6 Oclock, roll call 6½, breakfast. 7 company drill 7 to 8, 8 to 9 com'd officers drill 8 to 9 I will commence again for I got as far as possible a puzzle so I just / steped up to the Sergeants tent and got a copy of Hours for Daily Duty so I could give you a correct copy. Reveille 6 A.M. General Police for half an hour after. That is, wash, fix up tents and get ready for breakfast. Breakfast 6½. Company drill 7 to 8. Surgeons Call 8. Then if one is sick he must go to the Hospital with the orderly. Officers Recitations 8 First call Guard mounting 9 Then the guard must get ready Guard Mounting 9-10 Orderly Call 9-45 That is clean up parade ground, streets &c Company drill 10 to 11 Noncom'ds Officers Drill 11 to 12 Dinner 12. Battalion Drill 1½ to 3½ first call Dress Parade 4-15 Dress Parade 4-30. Supper 5 Retreat Sunset. That is cessation of days labors Tatoo 8. That is a signal for all to get ready to turn in. Taps 8½ when all lights must be put put out So you see I am not having a hard time at all, as there is not much to do except drill from 7 to 8, 10 to 11, and Battalion drill in the afternoon except when on the water / squad which is detailed every day—8 men under a corporal to fetch water for the company for 24 hours.

 

            And now, after allmost three months of experience as a soldier I think I can speak from some experience, and I must say I have been most agreeably disappointed so far. If we are called into active service we shall see some hard times, no doubt. But as far as I can discern unless our army under Burnside meets with reverses we shal never see much fighting. I may be rong but that is my candid opinion. Present indications appear to deny our stoping here this winter but as I said before, I think it will depend in a great measure on the success of our suthern army

 

            It is thought by some that the recommendations of the President w to congress will be instrumental in setling the matter up. I sincerely hope so, and think it might be settled in some such way to the satisfaction of both parties. But time will show and time with me goes fast—Dress Parade /

 

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Ask mother if she does not think I have written a long letter

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