Leave of via Washington & in

place put Newport News

 

                                                                                                            Newport News Va.—

                                                                                                            Friday Sept 6. 1863

 

Dear Wife                                                                                                       Darling Mary

                                                I have received two letters from you since I wrote last One of the 17^th the other by Box of 26^th The Box came on Monday The Judge did not get along ‘till Tuesday noon with him came Geo. Frink & John Gallup. Everything in the box was all right & very acceptable notwithstanding our rations being plenty at present The vest suits tip top it’s just the thing The turkey we have devoured & that was a nice one & cooked well. It reminds us of home to set down to a table filled/with these delicacies I went down to Ft. Monroe several days before White came expecting to meet him We did not expect any body but White. Geo. is a very welcome visitor He gives me glowing descriptions of life at home with the women also of the Shunoc Lyceum & kindred institutions tells me that he is a member of that August body “Long may it wave”. I wish I might “drap” in some evening when it was in session I am happy to hear that Ed. has got his discharge Tell him that it don’t sound well to us out here that he would like to join us in the ranks again That’s “played out” with us/

We are having splendid times now for us poor “Sojers”

 

N.B.     C. G. has been touched at last to night the order was read on dress parade very unexpectedly to us all That Orderly Sergt D H Randall was transferred to Co B as their first Sergt & J. B. Brown promoted to be Orderly of Co G. furthermore Bill Hawkins to be Sergt & a Voluntown fellow to be Corporal in place of Hawkins promoted That fetches your devoted “uncl’ Daniel” one peg nearer the goal “Slow & steady” that’s the way If John had Jumped me I might have felt jealous but it belonged to him he being Second Sergt Bill though Jumped/seveal of the Corporals he being fourth Corporal The way he got his promotion was through the Major He took care of him while he was sick at camp starvation Hawkins has never done any duty in the Co except to eat his rations he has been one of the color Guard The boys are rather sore on account of Hawkins promotion There have been a number of promotions in the Reg within the last two weeks Howard Miner was restored to rank again. To night All things must have an end so I will be brief with this and write again soon Much Love my dearest (I don’t know but you would have felt bad if I shall not but that in writing)                       Court

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