Camp Gillmore Ports Va

Oct 5^th /63

 

Dear Ari

                        It is a pleasant morning but a little cold. I am well and hope you are the same. I should have wretton yesterday but there cant be a sunday pass without something going on. I wrote you that I did not think we should get any conscripts but we have thay come yesterday we had 176 come to our Regt. and as many more for the 10^th N.H. I said that I did not think we should get any conscripts and so we have not for thay are all substituts that come for a bounty the same as we did so we call them Volenteers and not Conscripts. thay are made up of all nations. our Co have 19 of them and thay appear like a first rate / set of fellows. thay are very quiet so far but thay say that thay raised cain on the boat from Long Island Boston Harbor, so I suppose as soon as thay get them brok to the harness thay will send us into the field and I think it will be pretty soon for there is something up. so lett me know before you send a box to me for it may need differant directions from what I told you in my last letter. one of our Sergeants is drilling the recruts now. thay drill well. some of them have been in the army before and understand the drill verry well I think if we go away from here it will be on a raid then come back here again for our officers keep to work on their log houses but it is only guess work / It is evening and I will try and finish my letter. two or three of our conscripts have left so quick not from our Co though. thay will get picked up before thay get outside of our pickets I guess.

 

I cant think of any thing to write so I will close. how is Elmer a good boy yet. tell him that papa has got a little black girl out here and perhaps he would like to have her to play with. she comes to see me every morning to get something to eat. I give her a part of my breakfast and she is pleased enough. she is verry poor her father is in the Contraband Camp, / and her Mother dose washing for the soldiers. thay are very respectable darkeys but there is some darkeys here that is mean enough. thay will get some of the soldiers and go off into the woods and stop all night. on picket I guess at any rate thay say that thay run the picket gard. and a nother thing thay say that there is good mutton under black sheeps wool. dont you understand. well I must close

           

Give my love to all of the folks and take good care of your self and Elmer good night.

 

Corporal Stephen B. Tarlton.

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