Newbern N.C.

                                                                                                                        Feb 25^th/64

 

Dear Mamie

                        Best of women I received your kind letter last night & before receiving was in much such a state of mind as this will probably find you for it is some time since I wrote you last I had been waiting receive a letter from you having received only one since leaving Newport News I felt much as you did when you wrote one Nov 19^th which I was reading last night before yours came but to day I feell much as you must have/felt Nov 20^th when you wrote another on receipt of one from me.

 

                        I wrote you last from Moorehead City, & true to my predictions we came here the next day. It was pleasant when we arrived here & we encamped just out of the City In a day or two the weather changed & it grew cold & we had three of the coldest days that we have had qu this winter with quite a fall of snow but that is over with now & to day it is as warm as summer real lazy weather one feels like lying around listless appearances seem to indicate that we may stay here some time I hope so!!!—/

 

Col Dutton is chief of Staff to Gen Peck who commands North Carolina A little incident of the cold “snap” may be interesting to you. It is very seldom that the water freezes out here but during the late cold weather the swamps & ponds were frozen over hard enough to hold up one near by our camp was covered with wood & the last day of the cold “snap” LH. Park and myself went on to the ice to cut some poles It was early in the morning We went to the middle of the swamp cut our poles and started to come off but when within about twenty yards of the shore It/had grown warm so fast that the ice had become soft & would not hold & now to get to the shore we had got to go to the bottom. If we stood where we were we should soon break through & to advance was our best policy so we shoved the poles ashore on the ice & Park started he went five or six feet & down through he went as soon as he reached the shore I follow by sliding off the hard ice & in I went reached the shore shouldered our poles & off we went to reach the camp & be laughed at by those that went ashore afore the ice thawed Nothing serious resulted from our cold bath—Think I shall try another some morning.

 

Hawkins has gone home. I promised to write about it He had his choice to resign or have charges prefered against him & stand a Court Martial & he accepted the only alternative resigned & it was accepted. He is looked upon here as dishonorably discharged Lt. Trumbull at home on recruiting service has been dismissed from the service for drunkeness by order of the President. That made three vacancies one of which has been filled by the promotion of the Sergt Major. I would liked to have had that berth made vacant by him but was not fortunate enough It happened most too soon for I wanted my new coat/perhaps I may be fortunate enough to get something yet if not I am contented We have a new recruit Robert Lutliff                                                                                                       *          *          *

 

            Good bye darling we have just had orders to march with ten days uncooked rations where we are going I cant imagine. Dont send the coat till I write again I will write soon Much love to all the most to darling                         Court

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