Camp at Whites

Ford Maryland March 27^th 1863

 

My Ever Dear Brother & Sister

                        I will try and write a few lines to you this forenoon. I got your long & wished for letter larst night and was glad to hear from you once more, and hear that you was getting along so well. I was some supprised when I heard that Ursula had got a boy, and to hear such news that all the rest are going into the business; that beats all me I shall xpect the next to hear that Lucius will be going into the business the first thing I shall know; what did you know mean about his getting the mitting you did not explain your / self, and now, it leaves me in more of a puzzle than I was when I heard that he was married I was never more supprised than when I heard that he was married and to that Boutin Girl; I thought at the time that there must be some trouble some way or he never would have married her; but yet I hope she will make him a good wife I think it was strang to that he did not ask his folks to the wedding dont you. I am shure I will when I get married. you know he always said that when he got married that no one should know anything about it, and he has lived up to it pretty well hasnt he. I am afraid that they will not do as well at home as the folks expect, but I hope they will; but enough of this. Well you wanted to know what I wanted to name your baby; Well I have got a name I dont know as / you will like it; and if you do I wish you would call him Carlos Cornelius Fletcher I think the middle one is the best dont you, ha ha for various reasons you know; she sends her best respects to her brother & sister and wants you should come down and see her, now you will go you and Cooledge wont you for I dont see any thing to hinder and she wants to see the baby; old Amos Goold I see by your tell keeps all the Women that cant get in any other place he is real clever aint he. I should think they would ride him out of town on a rail I do not know of any news to write at this time, for we are not doing much here now we have got our fort most done it mabey take two weeks longer you wanted to know if that peace of cheese you sent was dried up no it was not, it was first rate and you would / have thought so if you was in my place. Well the Sutler gets some cheese but he asks such an enormous price for it that it takes all the money we can get to buy other stuff that is cheaper well cheese is 25 & 30 cts a lb Shugar 30 cts a lb butter 50 cts and poor at that tobacco $1.25 cts a pound and it is so bad that the boys cant hardly chew it at that. so you see I gaine some thing by not using it and every thing else in proportion but then we dont have much money to spend but we expect to be paid of before long or at least we hope we shall.

 

            You wanted to know if I had enough to eat yes I have all I want most of the time we get a little short once in a while but that is nothing compared with the rest of a soldiers life; but I have been verry well contented thus far and I dont want to go home untill this cussed rebelion is put to an end, and I still say give me liberty or give me death. We expect to have a little fun here with the Rebs as soon as the river lowers a little it is verry high now. We expected an attack at nolens ferry three days ago and expected to go but they did not come; and we staid at home. it is talked some of our going to Poolsville in a few days but I think we shall stay here for they have got to keep troops here but the citizenry say we shall be shelled out in less than two monts but let them do it if they want to and then we will try and see what we can do. We have to drill considerable now; and we expect to get some new rifles in a day or two our second /

 

[overwritten]

Lieut has gone to Washington to day after them there is fifteen from this Regt got discharged and have left to day but I must close for this time. write as often as you can and all the news you done verry well in the larst letter yours with love & respect from your affectionate Brother

                                                Joseph

To his Dear Brother & sister

            Cooledge & Ursula

 

give my love to Frank and Mr Davis folks and all enquireing friends from

                                                                                    Corp

                                                                                                J W Fletcher

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