Headquarters Annapolis

10^th Reg. Co. B.

Nov 21^st 1861

 

Dear Mother                                                                                       

 

I received your letter to night & was glad to learn that you have sent those things that I sent for. I guess they will get here about Saturday. I should think the folks of Manchester might get up a Thanksgiving / dinner & send down to the Manchester boys that are in this company the Coventry folks are going to send a thanksgiving dinner to what Coventry boys there are in this company & we should injoy a thanksgiving supper as well as any body I can assure you. The Mass reg. had a thanksgiving dinner to day.

 

            There was a N. Y. Reg of Zouaves went past here yesterday & they were a savage looking lot of fellows as I ever saw hair cut close to their heads & those red caps & those britches or bags I should have said with holes through / to put their legs in they were all stout rugged men & looked as though they would do some fighting

 

            We were examined again the other day and we had to be stripped starkd naked with not even a rag on us & went in to the Doctor’s tent with a blanket on us & when we got in there we dropped the blanket off from us & stood naked before him then he felt of us & made us strike & kick he said I would pass well enough after When I went in after asking me a few questions

 

            But I must close so good night tell Alice I will / write to her when I can get time. I am injoying as good health now as I ever did in my life. We get up & drill now an hour before sun rise & drill six hours in all through the day

 

            Give my love to father & tell him to write again

                       

                        from your son

 

                                    W^m L Norton

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