Sunday Apr 19^th 1863

                                                                                                New Berne N. Carolina

 

My Very Dear Martha

                        The “Dudley Buck” came in last night and starts back early tomorrow morning. I did not get a letter from you did not expect to as I heard so recently. The letter you wrote Fast day has got round I do not know where it had been It was directed plainly enough I think I wrote you that the 5^th were starting away in another expedition. I dont know where they are, probably at Washington. We have heard that the rebs had skedadled from there I am afraid our boys wont find them. It is pretty warm weather for marching now. I presume there will be but little more during our term of service. We have rumors of an advance by Hooker and of bloody battles / in Tennessee. We shall wait for the next mail with a good deal of impatience I fear that the long expected attack on Charleston is a failure.

 

I think that everything will remain quiet here unless the rebs should be driven from Virginia when they might perhaps try here, but they would not succeed. The paymaster was on the ground to pay our reg off when they had orders to march the other day, so I presume we shall get it soon after they get back.

 

Mr Hastings continues to improve as Sarah will inform you She wrote me a pleasant letter which I got this morn My health is excelent. I feel full as well as I usually do in the spring. It is getting quite warm yesterday 80^o, but we have a pleasant breeze most of the time so that we do not mind the heat so much. Mr Means Successor is not yet appointed Mr Page the other / clerk goes home to morrow on a furlough with a good prospect of getting a commission in a battery to be stationed in New York harbor. A very fine chance—I am glad for him though I shall miss him very much. I think they will be glad to have me stay for the present at least now he is going away.

 

            Dr Stone has not been able to preach now for two Sabbaths on account of a severe cold. He was out today We have had services as usual. I dont know who the Chaplin was. It is quite healthy here now much more so than I expected it would be when the warm weather came on. The flies are very thick. I suppose the misquetoes will come next.

 

            I wish you could see New Berne now the trees are leaved out. I think it a very pleasant place, though I never was in a place that the weather made so much difference with.

 

The streets are all lined with shade trees which will be of great service soon /

 

Today is the 19^th of April. Two years ago occurred the fight in the streets of Baltimore. We thought then that we could close up the war in three months. How sadly we were mistaken I believe it will close sometime and that we shall conquor but when I cannot tell, though I honestly think not till we are more disposed to “Deal justly and walk humbly before God”

 

It seems strange that so much effort should be made to raise a reg of colored soldiers in Mass. when three regs could more easily be raised here than one there and better men too.

 

There are colored men here who would make splendid soldiers and I long to see the time when they will be used Just what they want to hold these places in the warm months.

 

You must excuse rambling letters I always write to you just as the ideas come into my head.

 

How pleasant it will be when we shant have to write, though I allow myself to think but little about it now.

 

Give much love to all as usual. Accept a wifes share yourself. Very much for Dear Eddie. I hope he is well again. Charles. Kisses

 

[overwritten]

Enclosed you will find some rose buds If they do not get [?]ed they will blossom in water they say they are from Mr Means garden. I wish I could send you a good boquet some of the flowers here are very beautiful.

 

It was pleasant to me to hear how hearty was your reception home and how much interest they still feel in me.

 

Mr Kimball who used to mess with us is here from Hatteras He brought Mr Wood and I some shells from there which I shall send home if there is any chance. Some of them are very pretty. Hatteras is a great place for shells. He has been rather homesick there but likes better now. It is nothing but a sand bank. I hope you went on the trip to Boston you wrote about If you saw Dr D. about your side please write me what he said I hope there is nothing serious about it.

 

Be careful about that sewing stran. Good night

                                                                        Charles.

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