Camp Lincoln

Newport News

July 30^th 1862

 

Dear Uncle

                        I received your letter and paper last saturday with pleasure I am still at work though I am not well by no means and I do not know what it is that ails me If I lay still I have no more strengh than when I am at work you might as well go to the old harry as to a docter here for you will get nothing either way and so I wont go to them. it appears that you have a lot of fires at home and a good many drowned we have got our old quartermaster Thompson and he is playing his old game of stealing from the Regt Capt Bradford has resigned and gone home but we have got a good Lieut and we hope that he will be capt we all like him very much that coat is lost the man that carried it got drunk and lost all of his money close and every thing he had with him time he lives in Holden in the village called the French woods the coat is worth 5.00 the boys have had some letters from that place and heard all about it I never shall not make any long marches or travel a great distance at one time I am quite lame with the Rhuematism in my hips and legs which I have been troubled with ever since the Battle of Roanoke there is a great many troops here how many I do not know there was a lot of released prisoners came here that was taken at Richmond from the 21^st 11^th 10^th & 22^nd MV / they looked as though they had had a hard time of it Some of them had nothing but a bare shirt on some were sick and wounded it was a sight to look at there was quite a number that was helpless they are in the general hospital here between 3 & 6 hundred of them that came last sunday we are counted Reno's division and when you direct to 21^st Reg^t M.V. Camp Lincoln, Newport News, Va. I have not much to write now as I have not time to write there was pease in New burn the first of May and cucumbers and new potatoes there but I did not git any for they were so high that I could not afford to buy them I am much oblidged to you for making that pennance for my sins by sending me so much scratching but I dont think it looks very bad uncle had ought to have been on the [?] at hatteras if he likes seasickness. you think that we have enough to do fighting fleas that is not all we have to fight we have to fight to get enough to eat from the quartermaster he is the Devils one boy he will get noticed pretty soon I should like to help you pick some of them currants I should eat the most of what I picked I think I must close with my love to all and good bye tell walter to keep up good courage I shall come home soon as the war is over to see you all and have a good time

 

                                                From your Nephew

                                                                                    W^m P Hall

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