Suffolk Va      April 23^rd 1863

           

Dear Ari

                        I take this opitunity to write you a few lines to let you know that I still live. we have not gorn to Kentucky as you supposed but are still here at Suffolk to hold this place. the 1^st and 2^nd divisions of the 9^th Corps have gorn there but we are in the 3^rd division and that is left here. we have had a hard time I will tell you about it as I said I would we have been in battle ever sence a week ago last Friday our Regt has proved themselves to be worth something this time. we have been doing picket duty right in the face and eyes of the Jonnys. we have to lay low I tell you. I laid in a rifel pit 48 hours and could not get out / except at night. Clough went out of the pit one day to get some water and he got about 20 ft and come back dubble quick with the balls whistling all around him. after he got back he hallowed to the rebs. says he you damed fools didnt you know that you could not shoot a christian. any how. we have drove the Rebbels at every point. 3 Regt crosed the Nanse Mond river the other night and took a Rebbel Battery of 5 pieces of artilery and 150 prisoners thay crosed in our gun boats. we have 25 gun boats on the Nanse Mond throwing shot and shell all the time. there has been but very few killed on our side. none of our Regt and but 2 wounded. one of Co E boysgot shot through the leg / but is doeing well. his name is Gerrish from Nottingham I believe. the other was struck by a 12 lb cannon ball in the ribs it was a spent ball. it came trundling along on the ground but it knocked him pizelend up quicker then scat. the way we use the amunition here is by loading andfireing I tell you I have drawed 120 rounds and have but 40 left. we have got this place well fortified it looks as though it would be imposible for the rebs to take it. I dont know how many trops there is here but there is an aufull lot of them. General Longstreet is in command of the rebbel forces at this point we are agoing to give him the same as he gave us at Fredericksburg. I have just been / out and bought a NY Herald it gives the news as it is better then I can write it and I will send it to you read it to Father & Mother. you willsee that the paper speaks of Gen Getty he is our Brigadier Gen I went to his quaters one night with a mesage that the rebbels were trieing to crose the river, and he sent up 2 rockets to alarm the camp and you never saw such works by thunder. I thought I should piss my self come to find out what the matter was some one saw a muskrat jump into the water and thought it was rebbels coming. well enough of war. I am off duty now with a bad cold but nothing dangerous. we laid out doors just one week every night on the ground with out any shelter and I got cold. dont worry a bit about me for I keep out of danger. how is Elmer has he disobayed mama yet. direct your letters always the same

 

Give my love to all tell Abbott to come out and join the 13^th

           

Good day Corp S B Tarlton

 

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cotton growes here

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