Cottage Landing Va.

February 20^th/63

 

Dear Sister

I recd yours of the 8^th inst. yesterday and was glad to hear from you once more. I am well at present and hope that this will find you and yours all the same. you said if you could see me that you would scold me some. you had better keep all of the scolding till I come out there and then you can scold to your hearts content and it will be something new and laughable, for it has been some time since I have heard a woman scold. but no more of this and we will talk over it in a short time for I think / that I shall come out and see you all before I enlist again, which I think of doing so you may know that I am not sick of soldiering yet. I saw Fowler Kennedy some 8 or 10 days ago. he was as well as usual and was waiting to go on board of transports for Fortress Monroe. he was with the Ambulance corps and the 45^th regiment embarked at Aquia creek some ways above here so I did not see W^m but Fowl said that he was well. John and Art are well and in good spirits. The folks to home are all well and so are Janes folks all that are to home. Fletcher had gone to Potter county and M^rs Erway had gone with him. he had gone to see his Uncle Brother. you said the snow was 18 inches deep but the mud is deeper here than the snow is there it is almost impossible to get around. it takes 4 span of mules to draw 20 bushels of oats or 4 bales of hay and if we go out away from our tents we have to wade over shoe in mud.

 

Our reg't is stationed here on Potomac creek for Provost guard and we have to guard the docks to prevent smuggling and deserting in the Army of the Potomac. If you here any one complaining / because the Army does not move, just tell them to come down and wallow in the mud for a week or two and then they will keep still for a while. I do not think that there will be any more movements made here till next April for we have had a fine fall and are likely to have a late spring. we have plenty of grub. we draw fresh bread and have flour to make cakes of but I must stop for this time. Tell George to write when he can and you do the same and be sure to tell Margaret that I was verry glad to read the few lines that she wrote and that she must write more the next time that you write. Direct the same as before so good by.  Daniel Chase

 

To M^rs Kennedy

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