Newbern N.C. March 31^st 1862

 

Dear Parents,

                        I have forgotten the date of the last letter I recieved from you. The last mail that came while we were out on picket brought neither letters nor papers. In one of your letters you wished to know if I recieved the two letters and a paper directed to Roanoke Island I believe that I did. I have recieved all the Independents but one perhaps you didn't send it, but it doesn't make any difference now. There is a paper published in this city every day now by one of our Yankee soldiers. When we took the city the type was just set up nearly ready to strike off a sergeant in one of the Massachusetts regiments, a printer going into the office found a paragraph stating that the Yankees we with fifteen miles of Newbern and they would probably soon be attacked by them. the Yankee printer added another paragraph stating that the Yankees were in Newbern. I sent father a copy of the progress one day last week. I am told, as the progress says the mail steamer leaves for the north to day therefore am I writing on this small scrap of paper which I happened to have along with me in my book. I am on guard and its only four in the morning so I cant get any thing better until the boys are up. They have been putting up brick ovens down in the city for us, so we shall have soft bread once more; we have had it once yesterday, and oh how good it was. we have had no bread but hard crackers since we left Annapolis. we dont get any thing to eat here but salt junk crackers beans and the poorest coffee I ever tasted. if it wasn't given out for coffee one wouldn't know what it was by the taste, for it doesn't have the taste of coffee in it. I wonder if you have recieved all the things I have sent home by mail & did you get that [?] that I sent in a little box made of the wrecked steamer? I was afraid the box would be smashed before it / reached home. Has the Dr. got his box I sent him for William R. I was afraid it would never get there some way it seemed so large to send by mail. While I was out on picket the other day I gathered some real pretty wild flowers such as I never saw home perhaps they grow there. I have pressed them and will forward them soon as they are dry. But I suppose you begin to have some flowers in warm places in the woods up home now. This is quite a healthy place here except for fever and ague. the warm days and cold chilly nights are very injurious to a persons health, and brings on the disease to a great many. I suppose we shall have to be very careful what we eat and drink while we stay here or we shall all be sick. we came to the place under very bad circumstances we had been on the boat since the first of January then we were landed and underwent as much fatigue we were capable of bearing. Then went into camp a new climate, very productive of fever and ague, and I dont know what else. we are not recruited up yet and I dont know as some will until we leave here so many being sick makes the duty extra for those able to do duty, and so it goes. There is to be given out one ounce of whiskey and quinine in it every day. I think I shall not take the medicine until I begin, at least, to feel sick. I think that is soon to begin to doctor. There is a great deal of quinine used here now by physician. Last thursday morning my old tooth began to ache while I was on picket. In the night my face swelled up big enough for two. It has continued to ache up to the present time. I shall have it out as soon as the swelling is out

 

[front margin]

 

I hope I shall get time to add something to this but I want it to go this mail

                                                                                               

Your aff son

William

SOURCES