Camp 13^th N.H. Vols

Near Portsmouth Va

Nov 29^th /63

 

Dear Ari:

                        I received your mornful letter in due time. I am very sorry that you are so uneasy about this wars not ending before this time. I am sorry too that it is not ended but it will end some time so lett us keep up good courage. I wish you could content your self to lett me stop my time out as well as you have the last year but I dont want you to think that I dont want to come home to see you and Elmer, for I do want to go home, but Ari I want to see this rebellion put down and have peace declared before I go, if it can / be done before my time is out. Ah. would'nt I through up my hat and howle if the news should come that peace was declared. (hay) I dont want you to think that I am homesick because I write such stuf for it is not so. as long as you are all well at home I am contented out here and have been ever sence I have been out. so keep up good courage and lett it bump. It is a naster rainy day here to day it comes down right smart I reckon. you spoke about my coming home on a furlough. the reason is that I have not tried for a furlough is because we cant get but ten days and I thought that it would not pay to come home for that. / the Capt has just been in to our house and asked me if I was not going home on a furlough. I told him that I did not care about going for ten days. says he I can gett you one for fifteen days well says I, if I can get that, I would like to go. but I shant try this year so you need'nt look for me untill next spring. I dont know why it is that he offered me fifteen days when he wont give some others but ten. you see the Captain makes out the furlough and he can put in what he has a mind to and the General signes it. he can recommend a soldier as he has a mind to. Well about Doct Sulliven he has been very / sick but is getting better. I saw him out yesterday. you tell his Mother that he is liked very much in the Regt. and the boys were very sorry to have him so sick. there is three deserters to be shot here to morrow and our Regt has got to help do it. it is a hard case to be shot but thay must obay orders. two of them belongs to the 10^th N.H. and the other one to the 4^th R.I.

 

Well I must close. tell Elmer to be a good boy and papa will write to him pretty soon, give my love to all and write as often as you can good day S. B. Tarlton

 

[upside down margin]

 

P.S.

the boys that are to be shot are subs two of them, and on an old soldier

S. B. Tarlton

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