Portsmouth Va. July 25^th 1863

 

My own darling wife Mamie

I was thinking of writing to you all day yesterday and after I received your precios letter of the 21^st I did commence to write but there was such a “Hubbup” that I gave up till to day I am very sorry that after so long a corespondence we should lose any letters but where they contain nothing but our writen expressions the loss can easily be repaired by writing the same in some after letter But one of mine to you has been lost or delayed. When we got back to Yorktown from White House I was foot sore & tired & dirty being some time in advance of the Regt. Myself & John had our pictures taken/just as we were & the next day (the 11^th) I wrote you enclosing the picture which letter you have not Recd I am very sorry that letter was lost John’s mailed at the same time has reached home but it is no use “to cry for” spilt milk” Before I leave the subject of letters I will tell you about directing them Direct to Co. G. 21 Conn Vols Norfolk Va. & nothing more & I shall get them one day sooner than if directed other wise Warren Brown left here last Wednesday with a detail that is coming home after conscripts I expect to hear to day who was drafted in North Stonington I hope some are drafted that I could mention won’t it be fun to have them out here as privates they will wish they were dead if they do not toe the mark Some fellows would be used first rate Such as Dick Wheeler. I’d would almost be willing to give him up my place. Others I know would try to put on airs & they would get used rough Mamie, you may wonder that I have not sent home any money I will tell you I have not got it all of Jennings yet & when I got what I did the boys were out & we were here in the City & they wanted me to lend them I lent considerable of it to fellows that I knew were good & they will pay me & be very thankfull for the favor/

 

I have just got through with my job of impressing Negroes & I got knocked out of going to Washington with them they sent a boat to take them off in the night & could not notify me & so I did not go. While engaged in impressing them I had a good chance to see every body & every thing in this City of Norfolk. If I had gone to Washington I think I should have been detailed to stay there I gave the Superintendent of the Contrabands good while at work for him The Contrabands are quite [?] here, there being some three or four thousand of them I saw lots of those women while engaged in impressing. But thus far I have remained true to my Mamie There was a woman that I knew before I came here that I think the world of She is so good so kind faithfull & loving I cannot help loving but you must not get jealous for I will not love them all I will have nought to do with any other but her she is young & handsome & if I was not married I would marry her or no other I cannot marry her now but can do anything I like to with her as often as I get a chance Her name is Mamie & Oh how I wish I was at home with her this forenoon, wouldn’t we have a good time. The women are very plenty in this town that is if such as I mean diserve the name of women But I cannot forget my Mamie The boys that have got money are making use of it with them I will write more particulars concerning this at some other time/

 

I told Bill Coats that the Widow Maine was home He seemed very much pleased & says he would like to have her come out here. I should think she would like to make the trip I will not ask you to write often for I know that you will I will write you every opportunity I felt more like writing last night & if could have written then I should have written you a good letter but this one is miserable excuse it though I will do better next time My love to mother Respects to all inquiring friends

                                                Ever True

                                                            Court.

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