Norfolk Va. June 7^th 1861

 

My dear father

                        I have been intending to write to you for several days past but have had nothing of the least interest to communicate. The day after I reported I saw the Adjutant Genl again and he gave me an order to Capt. Elliott of the Richmond Grays to have me drilled and instructed and told me to attend to that for the present and wait here for farther orders. I suppose as soon as they think I have been drilled sufficiently some duty will be assigned me. I go to the quarters of the "Grays" twice a day and am drilled by a non-commissioned officer of the company. I do not find it so fatiguing or unpleasant as I expected. Our instructor seems to be entirely competent and is very polite and gentlemanly The company is the most orderly, but behaved body of men I ever saw and many of them are gentlemen The exercise seems to agree with me, and my health / is very good. I have nothing in the way of news to send you. We know nothing here of the movements of the enemy except what we see in the newspapers. They occasionally send a vessel up the river to reconnoitre and if she gets within range of any of the batteries they exchange a few shots generally without injury to any body tho' it is said the "Harriet Lane" was a good deal damaged at Pegs Point wednesday, and "nobody hurt" on our side. I believe the enemy will be satisfied to hold their own for some time to come and that no attack will be made or attempted on this place at all. I have received mother's letters of 30^th May and 2^d inst. the latter enclosed in a letter to H. Eaton with a postscript from yourself, also Julia's letter enclosed to Henry, and will answer them all in a day or two. I also received a letter from Dick Wednesday. He was at James Town Island and wrote very cheerfully His letter was dated 3^d inst. I see Henry Eaton and Nat. Coleman quite frequently. They both staid here last night. Henry continues very well. He attended church here with me last Sunday and spent the day. I have met several acquaintances here, young men who were at college with me. Henry's uncle Col Eaton is here on a visit, came to see the soldiers. Since I have been here I / have been almost living on fish. I generally eat them twice and frequently three times a day. No one but the authorities knows the size of the force under Genl Huger, but those who are best informed say it is sufficient to resist any force that can be brought against him. As I wish to write to Dick and have to go to drill this evening I must stop

 

With best love to Mother, Julia, and the other members of the family I remain

 

                                                                                    Your most affectionate son

                                                                                                            Jno. A. Logan

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