Suffolk Va      March 21 /63

           

Dear Ari

                        You see by the begining of this that we have moved again. we moved a week ago yesterday so I have not had a chance to write before. I am well and hearty I received both of your letters in due time. I was very glad of that dollar if I had got it in the morning I should have spent it and sent it right back again to you for I went over to Suffolk that day and should have got my picture taken if I had had any mony. I will tell you how I got over to Suffolk the Capt told us the one that had the brightest musket he would give them a pass to go over it is one mile from our camp. the boys say that the Capt is parshall to / me but I tell them to do their duty without so much growling and thay will get along better. now I will tell you about things It has snowed and rained for 3 days and it is mud snow and water up to ons knees. we have got little shelter tents and I have layed a bed all of the time. it was so cold that I could not write. I can hardly hold the pencil now. we are here with Gen Cochrans legon you have heard of them I suppose. I hear a camp storry that we are going to Tennesee next week and I guess it is true for thay keep us a moveing all the time we have moved only 13 times sence we came out. the 17^th day was St Patricks day and Cochrans leigon is all irish so thay had a big time / thay all turned out and went up to suffolk thay had 4 mounted bands it was the most splendid thing I have seen yet. we are on the Black water river close to the desmal swamp and it is desmal to I would like to see a rabbit get through it. we have skermishes with the Rebels about 10 miles out on the Black Water amost every night. our Regt has not been out yet and will not have to I guess. it is the Cavelary that has to do the pickiting on the out posts thay brought in 7 rebs yesterday. dont you think that I am tough to stand it so well we have had a mighty hard time sence we come out but I beleive that I can kill the whole Regt. out of 1040 men we draw rations for 620 / quite a falling off. You say the folks say that thay dont beleive but what I am sawry that I come out here I dont care where thay beleive it or not it is so for I could have been at home before this time if I had wanted to. well I dont beleive that I swear thay say but thats so to not only so but allso. I am coming home some time dont send any box untill I send for it. Oh tell True that our Regt went Democratic town meeting day very strong. tell Mr Garland that if I can find any seeds I will send them well I must close for I am cold tell Elmer to be a good boy and papa will com home soon I suppose he would not know me now if I should come home give my love to Mother & Father and all of the rest that will except it

 

Good day write soon Corp S. B. Tarlton

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