Camp Gillmore Portsmouth Va

Oct 2^nd /63

 

Dear Ari

                        I received your two letters yesterday and was glad to hear that you are geting along so well. I am well with the exception of a little cold in my head. my nasty organ runs all of the time so that I have wiped it so much it is sore as a bile. We are haveing a big storm here today. the wind is south east and blowing a gale it makes my old tent snap and crack. I am eating ginger bread so I will wait untill I get through. all through now I will commence again. you neednt think we dont have anything to eat out here if you do you will get mestaken I feel like raising the old harry with some body this morning so it bothers me to write. I cant think of any thing to write / You said you would send me a better picture of Elmer if I would like to have it. I should like to have it but I cant keep them with out spoiling them so I guess you had better not send it. I have almost spoiled the two that I have got now. some of our boys went down to Portsmouth and brought up those conscripts that Mr Berry come out here with. thay went to the 8^th Ct. and 10^th N.H. tell him to come up to our camp if he comes to Portsmouth again. we are camped close to the Roanoke and seaboard rail road the cars only run up to our camp. the road is blockaded beyond us with large trees fell acros the track.

 

who is that Hellen Greenleaf that you tell so much about I have forgotten if I ever knew. About the Ballot if you think you can / afford to pay $2.50 for it you can take it I should like to have it come out here for it brings the news from all of the towns around there but you may do just as you think best about it. the 10 dollars a month that I earn is all yours if I never come home if I come home I may want to borrow a little of it. so you do just as you are a mind to about sending the Ballot. It is not so sickley here as it has been although our Regt is reported as a Convalesant Regt. by the Medical Director of Portsmouth. I think that is why we have stoped here so long. unless something new turns up we shall stop here all winter. our Col is building a splendid log house and also our Captains are all of them building log houses, and I expect before / long we shall have orders to build barracks for us to live in. if we do stop here we shant suffer as we did last winter. I have wonderd how we got along as well as we did last winter. I have layed down many nights with my canteen for a pillow and in the morning it would be froze solled the water in my canteen with my blankets over it. I suppose some would say that is nothing but thay must remember it was not only one night but all of the time. you wanted to know if I did not want my boots. I have not needed them this summer but shall want them this winter. if you send me a box while we stop here direct to Stephen B. Tarlton, Co K 13^th N.H. Vols Portsmouth, Va. that is all that is nessesary. send me one pair of under shirts and stockings I would like a vest if you could get me on. ask Geo Carter if he has got my masure now if he has get him to make me one dark blue single brested to button up to the chin with brass buttons. dont pay to much for it.

 

Give my love to Elmer and all of the rest

           

good day         Stephen B. Tarlton

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