Camp Pope Sunday July 7^th /61

 

Dear Pap

            I have been looking for a letter from some of you folks on the Prairie for several days but as there was none come I concluded to write to you to day as Sunday's is rather a dull day with us soldiers I for my part put in most of my spare time in writing letters. It is with some difficulty that I write to day I have got a boil on my arm it is very painfull I have not slept any scarcely for two or three nights

 

The health of our Company is good in fact of all the companies there is some few cases of bilious fever We have accidents happening daily there was two out of the 17 Reg drowned last week Yesterday there / was two men shot by some careless person handling a gun I wonder that there are not more shot as I never in my life seen such carelessness in the handling of fire arms. I am almost afraid to see a gun, let alone handling them. It is not quite as much sport shooting one of those old muskets as it is a shot gun, as they shoot about as hard one way as another. I have had my shoulder almost kicked off by them. The Reg that left here last week have gone to St Louis to guard the arsenal there is another Reg leaves this week I do not know where they are going. I think we will be moveing soon tho if they take us to where it is much warmer than it is here we will suffer a great deal with the heat. I see by the Alton / papers that they have had quite a sharp battle in Virginia I would send you the Presidents Message but you can get it before it would reach you from here. We sent a box to Carroll last week in care of Chapman there is a carpet sack in it belonging to me I wish you would get it I forgot to mention it to Owen when I wrote to him But it is time to get dinner now and as I am of the cooks I must stop writing and go to cooking Tell Emma I will write to her soon My love to all reserving a large share for yourself Write soon from your

                                                           

Aff Son George

 

Alton

Co K 15 Reg

Ills Voluntrs

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