Portsmouth Va. July August 3^rd 1863

 

                                                                                                            I received your kind letter of the 29^th ult. this morning The Baltimore Boat has been delayed one trip or I should have received it a day sooner. But being directed as it was I received it as quick as I usualy do I was very happy to hear from you but no more so than usual. I shall always reckon the time of receiving your letters among the most happy moments of my life There is not an hour or minute passes but what I wish I might be at home with my Mamie but then I console myself that this short seperation will only increase our happiness when we do meet & if our lives are spared us we have a long time of happiness yet in store for us. I am very pleasantly situated to day. I wrote you before that those that did not close up their shops while the soldiers were passing through here their goods were confiscated & I to day am Guarding a Hotel which was confiscated I did not think I should keep a Hotel in Portsmouth. The Bar room contains the stock usualy kept in one Wines Liquors Beer Cigares & Tobacco. I have three men with me. The wives of the proprietors are here part of the time but I only speak of them it being/an uncomon thing for soldiers to be on duty where there are women I am writing on the dining room table as you will see by the back of this paper. I having laid it on the cloth and got some of the dinner on it We are not alowed to use anything in the house. There is a report here yet that all the troops are to go to Chaleston but I do not think we shall have to go I hope not for it awful warm here a person can have no idea how warm it is unless they are here and see for themselves it is true, we nothing about it scarcely keeping in the shade except when on duty It will give those conscripts a hard one to come right here from the north I hear that our men are about ready to come back having nearly as many men at the rendesvous in New Haven as they want to bring back with them I suppose you have seen Warren Brown by this time. Tell Mother she need not save any of the cake for me as it will spoil but the Wine will keep she can lay away a bottle or two of that for me I refer to Mash. & the wedding well success to the widow and all other widows By the way they are all Bricks I dont want to be brought into contact nor contract with any of them excepting they are relatives How is the Widow Maine? Not that I care How myself but I inquire for Bill Coats/

 

Ned, the colored boy that has staid with John & me found $25. to day I wish I could have been the fortunate finder. I would have sent it as a present to Mamie. Daling you must not get jealous about Nell B—for you know that has played out—I love nobody but my Darling Mamie Well daling I must close I will write again soon

 

                                                                                                            Court.

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