Suffolk Va      April 24^th 1863

           

Dear Little Elmer.

                        How do you do this morning. papas cold is a little better. papa was lookeing over his old letters this morning and happened to find one little one from his little boy Elmer and as his little boy had wrote to his papa first he would try and answer it. our boys have come in from picket and every thing is quiet no fireing on ether side. the rebbels have got tired and want to rest. our boys were stationed on the Jericho Cannell for picket last night. thay say that a rebbel never could get through the Desmal swamp any how. Suffolk is not very larg it is not so big as Exeter.

 

Saturday April 25^th

Little Elmer /

Papa had to leave his letter yesterday to go out and fight. we had to form a line of battle yesterday afternon and march out about a mile but luckey for us we did not have to go into the fight. there was about ten thousand went out and so thay had enough with out us. thay took about 25 prisenors and all thay had to eat with them was corn on the cobb rether dry think. thay drove the rebbels until after sunset and then come back. we lost a few killed and a few wounded I dont know how many. all of the dead ons that I saw was 2 pigs that the boys brought in on their guns.

 

Every thing seems to be quiet this morning. my cold is all most well. the weather is pleasant the corn is all up 2 inc high. Oh Elmer do you smok. If you do I wil send you some tobacco that was taken in that rebbel Battery the other night. well I must close give my love to all of the little boys & girls and to mama good day

           

from papa

Corp S. B. Tarlton

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