Portsmouth Va.

                                                                                                            Sept. 26^th 1863.

 

My Darling but much Neglected Wife

                                                I am sadly to blame for not writing you before. I received your kind letter of the 19^th last Monday but from a number of causes have not answered it till now. Though the whole can be reduced to one Sheer Carlessness do not think dear Mamie that any other woman has taken any part of your place in my my mind. It is the men if any thing. One has so much to do here in the city & his labor is so ill requited that I had about as lief be in the field. I have given up the idea of going in the/ordnance department.—Hawkins tells me every day that I shall be detailed but some time when he tells me so I am going to ask him if he thinks I am a D—d fool, Which, between me & my wife, he is beside being a comon drunkard. They have appointed a lot of Sergts. to act as 2^nd Lieuts They are entitled to wear a Sword & have all the privledges of commisioned officers but can not wear the shoulder straps John is among the number They are all Orderly Sergts but one. John will brobably receive a commission but the others will after acting a while, (and the other officers get back on duty) return to the ranks as Sergts./

 

I have got to go on Picket this afternoon.

 

            If my darling was here she would be all alone for twenty four hours

 

                        Some one remarked the other day that if you were here they would stay with you while I was on Picket That is the reason that however much I might wish to have you here I think I will not while I am connected with the Regt. Do not think from that that I could not trust you but it is the scandal If any of your old acquaintances should call upon you while I was away, you would immediately be talked about the same as the most coarse/& you know my nature would not allow the least whisper against you. If a man should say any thing bad against you I would whip him within an inch of his life or he should kill me. Of course I had to tell John about Annie He has had a letter from Thom Geere confirming your report He says he should like to be at home I asked him if he was not sorry about not improving that night I must close to get ready to go on Picket

 

            I will not neglect you so long time again

 

My love to mother Good bye Darling

                                                C.G. Stanton

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