Newport-News Va.

 

                                                                                                Monday 16^th Feb 1863

                                                            Yours of the 9^th I received on the 13^th Was very happy to receive so good a letter in so short time I am very sorry that White was so careless as to loose it in the road instead of delivering it to you I have forgotten the contents of that letter but let them be what they might I had rather not have others read them written as they were in the miserable style which we write in the Army As it is all over now there is no remedy so we will let it go You asked who directed it was John he has directed several/for me I will tell you why When one is writing the other is generaly & it most always happens that he finishes his letters first & then is in a hurry to mail them & so directs mine to hurry up matters

 

                                                                                                Tuesday 17^th Feb. 1863

                        As usual I did not finish my letter on the day I commenced it and resume again to day To day it is cold & rainy I wrote you in my last that this was a very pleasant place to encamp & the longer I stay the better I like it we have got rid of that everlasting wind (which was the greatest bother up to Fredericksburg) by coming here it is sandy soil here & the water soon soaks up I wrote you of my intention to visit Fortress Monroe I done so the next day after I wrote. I went down in company with E. S. Wheeler Col’s clerk I went in the morning & staid all day I could not get permission to enter the far famed Fortress though as no soldiers are allowed to enter it now except those that are on duty there I wish this Reg. could get the job of doing garrisson duty at some such place. Outside of the Fortress is a point of land on which is the village or place called Old Point Comfort that is the place strictly speaking which I visited allthough it is all called F—M—I bought me a pair of Boots that day & I flatter myself that they improve my personal appearence very much They are the McClelan style The legs come up to my knees The next day I went on Guard & the boys said I made a fine/appearence. When I am on Guard I have command of the Guard & act as Lieutenant so do all Sergeants when they are officer of the Guard. Since we came here they have Maj Crosby has the Reg. & means to make it a model Reg. & as there is nothing by which they judge a Reg. sooner than by the manner in which it does Guard duty they of course are very strict with the Guard & to add to it the night before Gen. Getty found our Guard neglecting their duty and had the officer of the Guard a Corporal with some of the men arrested & gave notice that he should be around several times during the next day & night and if the Guard were not doing their duty he should serve them the same but the most responsibility rested on the officer of the which Guard. Thus you may judge I had to be right on the mark My Friends were anxious about how I should get through with it so much more than comon being required but to the great satisfaction of all and particularly myself & instead of having any troubles came out high hook and received praise for the manner in which I conducted things/

 

When I get that new vest I expect I shall look so fine that I shall be taken for a commissioned officer My dress coat is a very good one only it is not long enough in the skirts however it is like all the rest and where all are alike one pattern is as good as another My old shoes I gave to Warren Brown his were all off his feet & he just getting over a fever to. I suppose if White is coming out here he has started ere this he will find it much easier to here than to visit the army of the Potomac from which thank God we are clear Letters and Express Matter reaches here in three days from Westerly. I wrote you that I thought we should not stay here long but everything seems to indicate now that we shall stay here some time—probably all winter we live first rate here have plenty of soft Bread & what we do not draw we can buy cheap. To day I am writing in the Adjutents tent by a good fire all safe from the storm that is raging without I feel very thankfull that my life is as easy as it is although cant see the reason./

 

Give my respects to all inquiring friends I hear the Shunoc Lyceum sat as mourners for Clint. I allways get mother’s part in the last of the letter but tell her it is not because I do not think of her when I commence Tell her I shall never foget her. & tell my wife I shall never cease to love her Oh, Mary I wish I could see you & I hope I can/some time not long hence But if I have to stay the three years it shall be no loss to me if my exertions can avail any thing and I am spared When this cursed War is over and I am spared to reach home & those I love I shall then be superiorly happy Tell mother to take good care of her health

                                                C. G Stanton

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