Washington D. C. Sept 14, 1862

 

                        Dearest Wife

                                                This is my first opportunity to write & short as the seperation has been I assure you I am glad to improve it. I will commence at the beginning and tell you the whole After we left Norwich we went to Allyn’s Point & took the boat Landed in Jersey City on the trip down I had a State room with Lt. Packer by invitation I was the only one but what had to stay in the cabin. The trip was very pleasant it commenced raining just before morning and continued untill we reached Trenton N.J. we took the cars for at Jersey City for Phelidelphia where we arrived about Sunsett (Of all the cities that I ever see Phelidelphia is the city for me) On the way to Pheladelphia we passed through Princeton & Trenton/In Pheladelphia we were furnished a supper at the Cooper Shop Saloon a benevolent institution where Soldiers are furnished free After supper we had to march through the City to the Baltimore Depot the Side walks were crowded with Ladies who were the most patriotic I have ever seen Shaking hands with kissing & bidding Good bye to Soldiers I was placed under necessity of kissing something less than 100 Ladies. We Slept in the cars the Second night whil on our way to Baltimore which place we reached about 7 oclock Saturday morning Baltimore is badly tinctured with Seccession The contrast between that place & Pheledelphia was very striking not a smile or cheer from the ladies The Pedlars trash we would/not buy for fear of poisen there have been cases of Soldiers being poisened there we Started from Baltimore about noon on the Direct rout for Washington The Rail Road from Baltimore to this place is strongly guarded in fact it is guarded almost to Pheledelphia I almost expected we should hear of Rebels before we reached here but we did not. They are off to the west a short distance from the rout we came by they are fighting hard off that way now & the rebels are getting whipped. We arrived in sight of the Capitol about Sunsett Saturday night we came into the city about 20 rods from the Capitol Building where we went into barracks for the night & of all the places in God’s world around/those baracks is the meanest & faltheist It is muddy to begin with then the dead were lying around for a whole day without being burried & the the breakfast O my God it is a shame to have such stuff set before even hogs for they might get bitter if they would it consisted of Boiled pork that stunk a piece of bread which was first rate that I put in my Haversack the coffee I will not descripe. About 8 oclock this morning after I had looked all over the city (which by the way is a kind of half finished sort of a place) we started for the place where we are now encamped it is about a mile east of the Capitol on high ground a very pleasant healthy place. there are encamped about us out here thousands of them

 

Monday Morning Sept 15 1862          I dreamed all night of you last night I must close now to send to the P.O. Every thing is fine. we shall stay here probably 3 months/

 

I like out here where we are encamped first rate where we are encamped but “Damn” Washington City. I have just had to jump up to see some of the boys in the Conn. Cavalry Bob Crandall among the rest Good By Mary Much love to Mother & more to you I will write again soon & tell you all I have had to omit now

                                                                                    Your Court

 

Direct to C^o. G. 21^st Reg Conn V        Washington D.C./

I have drank no Rum since I have been out here almost 2 Days

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