Portsmouth Va.

                                                                                                            Friday July the last

 

Enclosed & send some papers

            My Mamie

                                    I have been thinking of you so much of late, that I have been anxios to write you every day; but, have waited for a letter before writing—Last night I recd your kind letter of the 26^th, and what a contrast to the one it was an answer to. That was so short & miserably written and yours so long so good & written while you were so much indisposed—My darling I cannot thank you enough for writing such encouraging kind & loving letters so often By the way I have read your letter of the 8^th which we/supposed lost. I recd it day before yesterday & it was Post marked Washington July 26^th. I hope you may receive mine containing the picture yet. I was very much disappointed to think that none of the Shunoc boys were drafted Oh my God how I wish I could see the fulfillment of your wish & could be at home with you day after tomorrow But I am hoping praying & almost believing that this “cruel war” will soon be over. I have thought for a few days past that they might take us away from here as the city has been & is now full of troops going to Charleston from this place I have now no fears of our going/

 

I heard this morning that Col Dutton was to be Chief of Staff to Gen. Foster if so joy go with him & may his stay be long. I have been on duty once since I came back to the Co. Was on Guard at Gen Gettys Hd Qrs. We have pretty lively times here with so many soldiers in the city All of the Beer shops are closed & any that persist in selling on the sly are taken care of by the Guard their contents confiscated & the owners arrested I think it will be quite sickley here during the remainder of the warm weather but for my part I shall be very carfull We lost one man from Co. E who died from the “effects” of something he eat./

“There is not a rose without its thorn” How true!! Amid all of our pleasant surroundings I swear I dont know but the Fleas Bed Bugs & musquitoes will eat of this poor body of mine For for the last two nights it has been cool & I have slept very comfortably but before that I was kept awake all or nearly all night & in the morning my face & hands (By the way the only part of my body that I bare to the canabalistic blood sucking divils) would be so swolen that had you lain with me you would  failed to have recognised in your bed fellow your loving husband “All things have an end” and and I hope to see the end of these Vermin I have declared war upon them/

 

You do not write anything about Mother Lewis & the family Allthough I have not mentioned them in my letters I had not forgotten them Tell Ed I wish he would write me Where does he work this summer & where is Frank Tell Ed—I congratulate him on being clear from the Draft Oh, God!! What will some of those fellows do if they are drafted What sleepless nights & days of anxiety they must pass. But there is some consolation for them they can chose the Regt they wish to enter. If they come into Co. “G.” 21^st We will use them according to their actions If they are brave & faithful they may some of them rise to be Corporals What have become off all the folks? How is Dick Wheeler tell him I would like to see him & get some of his Cider/Give my kind regards to Deacon York’s folks. It would seem kind “O Natural” to be at home & go up there. Joe. Pitcher returned from the Hospital at New Haven the other day. If I should go into that Hospital I would stay as long as Bill Frink & Paul Crumb have We begin to think they will stay their time out. Well I do not think of any thing more to write Write often. Give my love to mother. I should like to call her up some morning as I did before. She would have as much difficulty in recognising me as she did before

 

            Good bye Much love Mamie

                                                C.G. Stanton

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