Washington D.C Jan 28/62

 

Sister Lydia

                        I received your letter of 19^th some days ago but have not had time to write before. My cold is better and I am getting along first rate. I am very much obliged to you for thinking of me and the will is as good as the deed. We still stop in Washington you may direct your letters as usual. I have received Mr Terrys letter and have answered it. I do not know the person who you wrote about. I believe that I never saw them. The weather still continues to be unsettled, but it is not very cold, it seems like spring here. We have lost two men since we have been here, and there is three more in the hospital, all doing well. Some of the boys are complaining about the hard work, but it is not half so hard to me as it use to be on the old Engine. There is no theatre trains to keep me to the next day, so you see that I am very well satisfied There is no more danger of a mans life here than there is on a railroad. I do not want you to think that we have to work in this company, it is no such thing we do not have to carry timber large enough to make a ship of oh no neither do we have to load boats large as Noahs ark upon wheels, for that would not be according to Hoyle. I would have you think that we have two servants, and ride round in coaches, eating peanuts perhaps you will believe when I tell you that Old Abe gave me an invitation to stop at the White house I wonnt. Gen. Mccellan came along a couple of days ago, and took me by the hand saying that he thought that he had seen me before. I told him that I thought that he had over the left. You see that I keep company with great men, some of them are over six feet high. bully for them. Do you get any sight of a Job in Boston I hope you will get a good one but you must be careful and not make your self sick I can not think of much more to write about to day  yours

                                                                                                            E L Bumpus

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