Camp near Portsmouth Nov 8^th 1863

 

Dear Cousin Alice

                        Your most welcome letter reached me day before yesterday & right glad was I to get it. I am exceedingly pleased to hear that you are all well & getting along so nicely. Wouldn’t I liked to have been with you, on that excursion to the mountain! You well know my taste in such matters, & I don’t think I should enjoy such an excursion any less now, than formerly. It must have made you all right merry & jovial to have had Theron & Manton & your Uncle Henry all with you, after their long absence in the army; & they too,/

 

I can easily imagine how they must have enjoyed it. You will perceive that we have left N.C. & are again on the “Sacred Soil” of the “Old Dominion”, back in our old camp within the chain of fortifications, which environ Portsmouth & Norfolk. We received orders one night a little over two weeks ago to rejoin our regiment without delay, which we did accordingly. On our arrival we found that marching orders had been received, but were then countermanded. Since then we have been stationary here, although I have been rather expecting a move every day. I rather anticipate another expedition up the Peninsula, but it will have to be done soon or the rains & consequent mud will put a stop to all such/operations. We have been having excellent, in fact, splendid weather for some time past, & I rather dread to have the fall & winter storms come on. I have not been at all idle since we came back from South Mills, but have been just as busy as I could be building a house for cool weather. Of course it all had to be done in spare hours, & as the work on the fortifications is done, the old routine of drilling has again commenced. Two hours & three quarters in the morning & two in the afternoon, spent in that way, leaves a broken day to work at building, but we have got along pretty well. A house built of logs, with a good fireplace & chimney makes a pretty comfortable place to live in. And now that it is about done/I hope I shall get a little more time to myself than I have had I should not be at all surprised however, at any moment, to have orders to pack up & travel. But I am bound to be comfortable while I can.

 

                                                                                                Tis Sunday, & for a wonder there is no review, nor parade going on, but we are allowed to be quiet & spend the day as suits us best. Tis true indeed as you say, I do very much miss the Sabbath priveliges I used to enjoy & it is now that I am deprived of them that I feel their true worth. This afternoon a few of us, as we are in the habit of doing whenever we are able, will get together, & have a little Bible class. We have had some very interesting ones in fact, they are always interesting. I know they have been of great benefit to myself. In the evening we have prayer meeting & these too I am sure exert a very beneficial influence over those of us who attend them & I hope may be the means of bringing others to think of serious things In this way I try not to lose all the influences which the sabbath in its weekly return should & does bring with it, & I feel that I have not been unsuccessful. Thank you very much for the tract enclosed in your letter. I will try to profit by it. Thank you, too, for the good advice & encouragement you have always given me & rest assured I shall try not to forget it, & in writing to me/I hope you will not hesitate to say to say whatever you think will be for my good.

 

                                                            Tomorrow I expect I shall have to witness the execution of two deserters from the 8^th, as all of our division that are here will be drawn up to witness the scene. They were to have been executed last Friday, but for some reason it was put off till tomorrow. I think it will need but a few examples of this sort to put a stop to desertion.

 

So your Uncle Henry & cousin Evie are married. Well, I always like to hear of the progress of the world & it’s inhabitants. next thing I presume I shall hear something of the same sort from yourself.

I have lengthened this letter much more than I intended when I/began. You need not read it all if you get tired. But at any rate please answer soon. Frank will have to wait for aught I see till next time I am in debt too to both Royal & Lizzie. they must not be jealous because I answered your’s first. Love to them all I shall endeavor to pay my debts as soon as possible

 

                                    Your Aff cousin

                                                            Kirtie

 

[margin] Woodruff

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