Norfolk Dec. 5^th 1863—

 

My dear Mamie

                        I have not written you for some time I was waiting for a letter from you yesterday I received a very good one John got back yesterday & Bill Coats started for home I have no news to write this morning. Gen. Butler has issued an order closing all the houses of ill fame & any soldier found in one will be put in jail together with the inmates of the house & have his name published on a Bulletin Board They do not allow any of the 21^st to go about the city when off duty without a pass all of which is very good & I hope will continue/

 

It begins to look as if there would not be much more done ‘till spring. although we are having beautiful weather now to day is a splendid day.

 

They have shot quite a number of deserters in this Dept. lately and there are now three in jail condemned to die one of them I know very well his name is Cha^s Leach of the 4^th R.I.V. He is Brother to those Leaches at Putnam one of which is a Capt. in the 6^th C.V. and the other a Quarter Master in the 5^th C.V. They are raising a Regt of “Nigger” Cavalry and all the niggers are going in to it I had an offer to go in to it But think shall not the Maj of the 3^rd N.Y. Cavalry is at the head of it and he is an old class/mate of Lieut Hubbell’s. If they raise any “nigger” Regts at home I will take a commission in one them I have just received another very kind letter from It finds you at that heretofore unheard of place “Davisville” No slight meant for as far as I know it may be ahead of Milltown. But Milltown’s commercial advantages would be superior to its, for everybody knows that Milltown is a Seaport place & this Davisville I take it is an inland city, but enough Miss Hettie wishes I was there! So do I & if it was not for fear of displeasing Uncle Samuel I would come. Never mind when this “cruel war” is over” I will visit her sure./

 

Ranson Kenyon is going home to go into a Nigger Regt. “How are you” “Lt Kenyon” I must close I will write soon my best respects to your young lady friends & much love to Mamie

                                    Good bye

                                                            Court.

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