Newbern N.C. April 1^st 1862

 

Dear Parents,

                        I have made up my mind to begin another letter home, but I don't know when I shall finish it there is nothing of importance going on here now except an occasionlly skirmish between pickets parties, and certain stories fabricated to produce a sensation among us poor ignorant soldiers. Buisness seems to be prospering in the city, and on the increase among sutlers, and even some few citizens have ventured to open their shops and expose a few things for sale; indeed there are some very neat looking stores past week. but I have written about going on picket in my hurried epistle of yesterday such a scrawl I don't think I ever wrote before and hope I never shall again; but I was in almost a desperate hurry I had been on guard all the day before / and night had been up and and had written part of my letter but in the morning I found letters were going that day, and they would be gone from our regiment before I could get mine ready as I had to get my breakfast so I got a pass and carried it myself. There is an express office in the now and soon there will be a box on the way north. I made box to day and shall send it as soon I can get it ready. I dont know as I shall send the music, perhaps it isn't worth it. I would like a half dozen steel pens [picture of steel pen marked Joseph Gillott 303] I suppose they can be sent in a letter.

 

Vegetation has quite a about here peach blossoms have mostly fallen, either from the effects of frost, (of which we have had several pretty severe lately) or from maturity. Apple trees are putting out their buds, and in another week will be in bloom if the weather should not be cold. The rose bushes are in full bloom and other flowers are in bloom in yards. Our officers are using some of the houses for their own benefit. General / Burnside occupies a fine brick residence in a pleasant of the town; with grounds nicely laid out with flowers and trees and nice green grass, and the appears to have been made. General Foster makes his head quarters at the Gaston House; quite a nice hotel, the proprietor of which did not leave the city in evacuation. The other General I don't know much about. There has been quite a sad accident in on of our companies (Co B) this afternoon, as one of the men was cleaning his rifle, (which he supposed was not loaded) it went off and shot one of his comrades, wounding him seriously in the side. The way he came discharge his piece was after this manner. The gun he had been using had got out of repair, and the capt. had given him another, which he went to his tent immediately and began cleaning. he taken of the lock and oiled it and after putting it on, put a cap to it, to try it. he snapped it and the first time it didn't go, he tried it the second time when the gun went off, / passing out through the door of his tent and across the street passing through the side of the tent and entering the side (left side) of young man as he was setting in a chair in his tent. the ball struck his bayonet scabbard and glancing slightly entered his side just below the short ribs, passing upward and lodging somewhere inside.

 

April 4^th

                        The young man who was shot the other day died yesterday morning and was buried yesterday. there were two funerals from one regiment yesterday and one from another near us; there is a funeral nearly every day. The regiment is pretty well played from fatigue. exposure and staying on those transports so long, has ruined the constitution of many a strong man who thought he could stand any thing before he left. We were detailed our company and one other to go across the river after some cannon. we had to draw them on the railroad track over the ties and wasn't easy work neither. The first /

 

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afternoon we got four across. yesterday morning we went to finish our labors. We got one thirty two pounder, and four caissons across, and then went back to camp pretty well tired and in need of some dinner. We are looking for a mail every day now. I shall have to close this short epistle now for I shall have to soon get ready for drill we have drill from nine until eleven every day and from one until two

                                                                                               

Dutifully

William

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