Head Quarters 3^rd Brig. 1^st Div. 10^th Army Corps

Curtis Plantation Virginia

Sunday, June 12^th 1864

 

My Dear Parents,

                        Do not for a moment suppose that because I have taken this sheet of letter paper, that it is because I have got so many ideas to communicate that I could not get them all on a sheet of note, for that is not the reason. it is usually all I can do to fill a sheet of note But the flies are so thick and bite so I am scarcely able to see I shall have to stop and excommunicate some of them. I am all alone in my tent for a wonder they usually make this for a general rendezvous, and keep the tent littered up all the time very much against the will of the Captain as well as myself, for we both like to have our things in in their place, and having things looking neat where ever we are. but the men from the other tent come in and tumble things around at a great rate, lounge around on the bed, and talk and gabble as though they alone were the chief persons, and / belonged here, and that every thing in the tent was common property, subject to their disposal. This way may suit some people but it does not me. The men officers I am in the tent with I like very well. Captain Amory used to belong to the twenty fourth Massachusetts but is now an assistant Adjutant General. he recieved the appointment on the staff of the late General Stevenson but before it was confirmed by the Senate, the General was killed he has not as yet recieved his commission or any orders in regard to what he is to do, is now Acting Assistant Adjutant General of this Brigade. The next in rank is Quartermaster Royal A Fowler of the 10^th Conn. Vol. Inf. who is now Act. Asst. Quartermaster Gen. of this Brigade. he is a very nice kind of man, and pleasant, but his ideas of neatness, or rather of keeping things in their proper places, will hardly coincide with those of the Captain or myself. The next ranking officer is a first Lieut of the 11^th Maine Vols. he is a German, and although quite a young man, about thirty, is an old soldier, he served in the regular army ten years before the war and now his three years will be up in about two or three months. he is rough but then I can get along very well with him. the other is a second Lieut of the 11^th Maine and a worthless good for nothing fellow, and only is kept along, (I think) because he is a brother in law of the [blank] I have nothing to say about him except that I want nothing to do / with him further than is necessary. He is trying to get a leave of absence I hope he may succeed. The Colonel H. M. Plaisted is a very nice sort of man. believe he was a school teacher before the war. I do not know much about him any way. I have got along as nicely as can be so far. You wish to know what I think of the Cleaveland Convention? I do not think much of it, or that it is any honor to the men composing. as for General Fremont I think as one writer says of his of his acceptance that it is his last blow on his trumpet. I was a Fremont man, and was always in favor of him and think that he has been badly treated, but I also am a Lincoln man, for Honest Abraham, and when Fremont comes out and sets himself up against him, as he does in his acceptance of the nomination, he loses all my sympathy.

 

            I see all those I am acquainted with in the regt as much if not more than I did before. Although to day is sunday it does not seem very much like it. it is quite quiet, very quiet to day. But as the regiment is on picket I suppose there will be no services, or preaching to day. It has been so almost every sunday since we have been here.

 

            Those raspberries are very fine. I have written much more than I expected to when I commenced. Remember me to all the friends.

                                                           

Your son         William /

 

We have to pay for     butter .65 cts

                                    Ham   .18 cts

                                    Sugar .24 cts

I do not know how much for Milk .50 ga .15 probably per can

and a can of preserved fruit such as you sent cost $1.25.

            Fresh and salt beef we get for what Government pays for it

We get dried apples of Government Commissary and irish

potatoes all Government cost price    Flour & Hominy the same /

 

P.S. I believe my correspondence must be extensive for I find I am getting out of stamps again nearly.

 

W L Savage

Lt 10^th Ct Vols and AADC

3^rd Brigade /

 

Did you recieve by mail, at two different times, some photographs, if so will you please return me the last package.

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