Newport News V^a Feb 28 /63

           

Dear Ari

                        I received your letter night before last and will try to answer it if I can keep my fingers warm enough to write. it is quite cold and rainy here to day. last Sunday when you was writeing it was snowing here we had an awfull storm it snowed 6 or 8 inc and then turned to rain. I see by your letter that you did not get my last one. I wrote it 3 weeks ago tomorrow. I wrote for you not to send that box but you say you went home on purpose to send it so let it come. you neednt have gorn home on purpose to send that. / you see we have moved from Camp Falmouth to Newport News and it is a splendid place I tell you. it is on the James River about 10 miles from Fortress Munroe. we are in log barracks. we live first rate here. yesterday we had for dinner fried beafstake and potaters and a plenty of it to. to day we had just as good a soope as you or any body else can make ill beett a sheep. the 14^th day of Feb the Capt said he would give me a Valentine. he asked me to come into his quaters and he gave me a corporals billet and said he hoped that I should not get sick as I was all the one that had not been sick except Clough. the Capt has been sick with / the scarlot fever but is getting better. Thay have just sent for the Docter for Lieut. Coffin but I dont know what the matter is. it is something sudden.

 

            Last thursday we had a grand review of about 36,000 troops the whole 9^th Army Corps and to day we have been mustered for our pay. we are to be paid off in March so thay say.

 

            I cant think of any thing worth writeing. my health is good I have not taken any medicen but once since I have been out here and then I took 7 pills that one of the boys gave me for I had not shit for 10 days and I thought it was time that I did and I rether expect I did

 

We are under command of Gen Dix now. I dont know how long he will have command I have just been to supper but not very hungry. it rains like the duce. I dont know how long we shall stay here we have just drawed 10 days rations and shall stop very like untill that is gorn. well I must close for it is getting dark tell Elmer to be a good boy and papa will come home pretty soon and fetch him a littl black boy to play with. Sunday Morning March 1^st. I went down to the river this morning and fell into the spring but did not get much wet. we have just had our sunday morning inspection so you see it takes about all of the time to fart around Give my love to Father & Mother and all of the rest. I will write again soon Good day S. B. Tarlton

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