Coledge Green Newbern NC

May 20^th 1862

 

Dear Uncle and Friends                                                                                              

                                                I received your bundle of things all right last night except the cheese that was all black and had to throw it away the reading matter I think will go a spell I am in the division hospital on the coledge green it is a very pleasant place cool and shady it is all covered with trees I have been round the city a little the streets are wide and every one is shaded with trees of mulbury and mountain ash and swamp maple. the buildings are in pretty good stile and look well. there is no streets paved and are not very mudy the city is all full of hospitals for the different Regts we cant go on any of the principal streets but what you pass 1 or two hospitals there is a good deal of business going on here with the sutlers here Henry Oclark is doing big business and all of the sutlers I heard that Mrs Moore was dead Lewis' wife will have a little more sway now I did not expect a shirt or any thing of the kind the thread came handy I have not tried the shirt on yet but it looks good and nice the nuts did not go bad or the cakes they did not hurt any I have not had the chills for quite a spell It has rained every other day for 12 days the men had a tom fools march saturday morning in the rain mud and water I have just read Tom Earls / letters and his advertisement the 25^th have never have gained a battle since they left home they have never been engaged but once when they was at the Newbern fight they only had a very few men that did any thing and they stole up they have not got any officers but one and that is John Oneill they have run at every battle and have got so low that they run from about 400 Cavalry they and they and the 14^th they have lost all the confidence of all the head officers in the expedition and are though thought nothing of out side of there own men and ranks they have the name of the old bay state boys and there lazy officers do nothing but write for the papers they have there hospital close by where we are. I am waiting for the mail and hardly know what news more to write there is plenty of stuff to write there is a nigger meetting within fifteen rods from here and we can have fun though they are so quear and hollow enough to take your head of and they feell so bad when they get dresed up I tell you it would make you laugh well I will have to start on somthing else as I suppose you will want to know how I am getting along I am getting better in my body and head but have not any strengh to hold out on I can eat like a horse if I dared two to / but that wont do we do not have what the the men can eat, the bread has been sour and the salt horse cant eat there is enough of that and hard bread and so the men get there being from the sutlers and pedlers if they want anything to strenghening they have got to by it themselves and pay high for it or lay on there backs 2 or 3 months till they have some money or get discharged or sent home on a furlough and then have to pay half their fare then there is not much fun in it. I must close give my respects to all I have sent a box home the the and is to be left at the fuel house foot of Foster ^St a week ago how is Walter and all the rest write all the news and except my thanks for the bundle for which is very acceptable   your Nephew

                                                                                                            W^m P Hall

 

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            Direct as before

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