Camp Foster.

Newbern North Carolina

April 19^th 1862.

 

Dear Parents,

                        I have recieved a letter from home since I wrote my last but our chaplain arrived last night and reports a large mail in the city for us. he is just twenty four hours from Fortress Monroe reports that all is quiet and that nothing of importance had occurred. We this morning recieved a draft for our second bounty money. William just now brought in his enclosed in an envelope I will put mine in and send with his. It has been pretty warm weather here for the / week. the sand flies and part of the time it is quite oppressive. we have a drill every morning from nine until half past ten, just the hottest part of the day. then we have another drill from one until two in the afternoon, but that is only a company drill, and is not as bad as battalion drill. There has an expedition gone from this place somewhere I can't tell where though. fort Macon is still in a state of seige I understand. they are to begin the attack today. the I am told say they shall hold out until the last minute. I have not heard from the boys that are sick for a day or two. they were removed from the hospital here day before yesterday while I was away to the battle field. But the head steward told me that W. N. Salter was better, Obe was about the same. he was pretty sick. the others were all better I believe. those who were at the city. H. head was very low, and / D. J. Finch was very much better. he has been pretty sick, but I guess has kept in better spirits than Head, which has a great deal to do with a persons health here. The wind blows the dust in the tent and all over every thing, so you must excuse the dirt on this paper. Day before yesterday I went to visit the battle field. I found it a very long and a very hard walk through the dry sand and it was a very warm day too. Lieu. head went with me. we had a very pleasant walk. We made up our minds we hadn't much of an idea of the battle field. it was with some difficulty we found the position we occupied and after we had found it, Lieutenant could hardly recognize it at first. our distance from the battery was between three hundred and three hundred and fifty yards. I found one canister shot which the rebels shot at us. I also picked some small flowers from the field which I send. But I close

William

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