Camp Gillmore

Near Portsmouth Va

Nov 10^th 1863

 

Dear Ari:

                        I now seat myself down in the Captains cook house to write you a few lines to lett you know that I am well and that I get along firstrate. the Co is out a drilling and thay need their gloves to for it is aufull cold here. it snowed a little yesterday but is fair weather to day and cold enough to freeze water. I suppose you will wonder why I dont drill with the rest of the boys. well I will tell you I have charge of the cook house to draw the rations for the Co and see that the cooks dont cheet the boys out of their rations. / the fact of it is Ari I do just about as I have a mind to but still if there is any danger in the way, thay will call on me to go. (say to arrest a man that is ugly) well thay know that I never say that I dont want to. there was three executions here yesterday. two deserters were shot from the 8^th Ct. I did not see them but the 3^rd one I saw he had three balls put through his head. he kicked aufully I tell you. I felt very bad but however he had no soul to save or to loose for it was the Docters horse, poor fellow.

 

I have got to go to the Commissary to draw 10 days rations. if I get a chance I will finish this so to send it tomorrow 

 

It is evening and I am still setting in the Capt cook house trying to finish my letter. I got the gloves and strips in due time. thay were just right the strips I have worn and the Capt says thay are bully. I will send you the pay for the gloves when we get paid of and that will be before long. three cheers for the army of the Potomac. thay have give the rebs fitts, so says the Herald. you have seen the account of it I suppose before this time. the report is that fort Sumter is ours. bully for that. I must quit and smoke a little and see if I can think of any thing more to write as sappy as that I have wrote. 

 

Oh I have just thought of some thing to write. dont you think that my box cost a big price I do if you dont. but the clothing costs more then it use to I know you wanted to know if I got any whiskey out here. dont you be alarmed about that for what a soldier cant get ant worth a getting. well to be honest about it I have to deal out the rations of whiskey to the boys every night and I must be foolish if I didnt get a good big ration my self. we get one half gill every night. right smart. Oh by the way you ask Eliza Goodwin if she knows Benjamin F. Wintworth. he use to work down to Stratham he belongs to our / Co. he come out a substitute for some one. he is well acquainted with Eliza and Matha Hall and lotts of girls around there. he and I have bully times out here I tell you. well I must close but before I close how is Elmer a good boy now. I guess he is. tell him that papa dreams about him very often. lett him write another letter to papa if he is not too buisey.

           

Give my love to all the

folks, write often

           

Good night.

S. B. Tarlton

 

P.S. send me a post stamp a 8 cent one

S.B.T.

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