I have written to Mr Goodall, expect an answer with much pleasure. Have written to my old school and got Mr Wood to write to the Sabbath School. Mr Clafton has written to the Soldiers prayer meeting. Mr A— has replied, it came today he wrote one of his warm hearted letters. I shall write write to him soon as I can. Mr Anthony writes that he misses us very much. It is pleasant to be missed at home. “Do they miss me at home” Yes. I am sorry that Knight did not succeed in the school. I am afraid it will be the means of upsetting the whole school plan. Mr Anthony’s little girl has been sick but is better now. How I wish I could be in the Sabbath school in Marlboro now. It is the/ time for their meeting.

 

You wish me to give you my impressions of Newbern. I thought I had. I have not seen much of the place yet and cannot write very intelligently. It is larger than I at first supposed. Containing before the war, I suppose some sixteen or twenty thousand inhabitants. It is very pleasantly shaded. the streets are straight rather narrow and the ground perfectly level. Like all southern cities there are some good houses a few elegant ones with many negro cabins and houses of poor whites who as I think I have written before are about as badly off as the negroes themselves. The city is situated on the west bank of the Neuse and on the north bank of the Trent at their junction/

 

Before the war it must have been a place of some considerable importance. Now it is almost diserted by its former inhabitants and their places are supplied by soldiers and negroes. Just below the city the rebells sunk a row of vessels across to prevent the passage of our gunboats. When Burnside took the city the railroad and river were nearly paralel to each other the railroad on the west side. About 4 miles below the city between the river and city was the place where the Battle of Newbern was fought The breast work extending from the road to the river It was there that Adj Stearnes was killed. I passed near the spot where he fell when I came up from Beaufort.

 

[map, top to bottom & right to left]                                        obstructions

                                    Neuse                                                  Neuse river

                                                44        New                 battle               first

                                                            bern                 field                 entren

                                                Trent               Railroad                      chments

                                                57, 45                                                  of the

                                                                                                            Rebels

 

                                                                        The numbers indicate

                                                                        where those regiments were

                                                                        encamped We expect to

                                                                        go near the 57^th/

 

I meant to have written about Geo Fisher before but it sliped my mind He has been sick at the hospital but is better now. I saw him yesterday he had just got a letter from home. I like him very much. Do not give his folks the impression that he has been very sick. He got tired out on the march and is just getting over it. I think I wrote you about attending church in New Berne last Sabbath It was a great treat to me.

 

I hope you are able to go to church today. I cannot but think you are better now. I was glad to have you write that you were going to write often nothing gives me greater pleasure that to receive letters from home./

 

You have probably seen Quint’s letter in the congregationalist for Nov 21 I think he expresses the feeling of not only the army of Virginia but of North Carolina also. Thoughtful men in the army are out of patience that so much should be sacrificed, that so many lives should be thrown away on account of blundering drunken management and drunken officials and if this state of things must continue they do not care much how soon the contest is given up. But I do not yet believe that they must or will continue. I am glad that they have begun to thin out the incompetant officers in the army/ of Virginia. I hope the same process will soon be commenced here. I have no doubt if all the officers of our army had been what army officers ought to have been this war would have been brought to a triumphant close long before this.

 

I was quite surprised to hear how fast Eddie was getting along with his reading I shall be very proud to get a printed letter from him. I cannot realize that he is old enough for that. I do not suppose that I shall know him when I get home if I am preserved to come home. If he will print me a letter I will print him an answer

I shall not get time to write him this time but will try to next/

 

The Marlboro Families I understand drew their State aid last Monday Nov 1. I do not see why you cannot. perhaps you did. If anything is in the way please write me. Addison will assist you about it I presume. I understand we are to be paid off this week up to Nov 1. If so I suppose the $10 a month which I allotted will get round so you can draw it in the course of a few weeks. Ada appologized for writing the minute particulars of news It is just what I want you all to do. It is those little things which remind me most forcibly of home. I hope you will not feel the cold this winter as/ much as you fear. I shall be with you in thought. Will that keep you warm any?

 

I find great satisfaction in looking at my collection of pictures Yours, Eddie’s, Ellen’s and Mary’s All natural and good.

 

I am glad that the reading of my letters does you so much good There is a great deal to excuse in them but I know you will not be too critical. I almost always have to write in a hurry. Give Eddie a good warm kiss for me and Eddie give Mamma a good snug for papa (I wish I could do it for myself) Write often keep up good spirits not by making a direct effort to but by keeping the mind occupied with cheerful thoughts.

 

I shall not have time to read this over I hope you can make it all out I almost fear you can’t.

 

Love to all my thanks to all for interest expressed in yours and Ada’s letters I hope I shall prove worthy of it. With ever so much Love

 

                                    Affectionately Yours  Charles

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