Newport News Va

Feb 14 1863

           

Dear Ari

                        I received your letter last night and was glad to hear from you that you are all well I am well and hearty as a bear. you see that we have moved from Falmouth we left there last Saturday and come down here in the steamer Geo Washington. it is about 250 miles we were 24 howers a coming down it is one of the most splended places I ever saw. we are in camped in barracks close to the beach. I am setting right down on the sand close to the water writeing. right in front of me is the U. S. ship Congress sunck & a little to the right is U.S. ship Cumberland sunck thay had a battle with the Merimack in March the 8^th 1862 we are about 10 miles from fortress / Munroe up on the James river. I wish you was out here with me it is a splended place. the Cols wife is here with him. the river is about 3 miles wide and all full of steamers & gunboats and U.S. ships. the second Moniter layes of here. she is a funny looking thing she looks a thoe she was all under water but her smoke pipe you say the folks say that Hooker had as lives let his men get killed as not. I dont think so if it had not been for him and Franklin and Sumner we should have got cut up worse then we did at Fredericksburg thay would not put there men into that slaughter pen thay said to be killed of so. but however it dont make any differance to us we are under Burnsids yet. the ninth Army Corps is under him / about 40 thousand in the 9^th army corps are all down here under Burnsids. by jolly here comes the hero loaded with soldiers with a schooner in tow all crowded to.

 

            You neednt send any box to to me yet untill I let you know for I dont know how long we shall stay here nor where we shall go. all that I wanted was a pair of boots and stockings but it is so warm here that I dont want them and stockings the whole co had a pair sent them from Portsmouth I had a pair from Ellen Snow

 

I am all of a weet setting still I must go to dinner and finish afterwards. Sundy afternoon Feb 15 we have had an inspection this fore noon and I have just got a chance to finish writeing we had a dress / prade last night and it was read that private S. B. Tarlton was corporal and the boys pitched into me to pay the treat. I told them if thay would obay orders I would treat them all when we got home. the boys said thay could not think what in H—l I used so much blacking for, but I told them there was a great many holes in a skimmer. well I always liked to be a soldier and it comes very easy to me. we expect a Naval Battle every day between our gunboats and the second Merimack as we call it. but we shal be in no danger.

 

How is Elmer tell him he must get uncle Joes gun and play soldier I supose he has got big enough by this time. tell Jarome that I will write the first day I get a chance but he must not let the woman see it I want to wate and see if we dont have a Battle on the river first and then I shall write to him and father. Give my love to Mother & Father and tell them not to fret about me for I get a long first rate. Give my love to all inquireing friends and tell them I am contented and happy as long as you are at home. good day

                                                                                               

S. B. Tarlton

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