Head Quarters Albany May 23^rd

 

My Dear Aunt

                                                                                                            As Mr Hammond is here I will try and improve the opportunity of writing to you and sending this letter by him I have delayed writing to you hoping that we might get settled down before I wrote so that I might let you know where to write we have had pretty hard times since we came here our company are the most of them discouraged and some of them have run away although for my part I have found no reason to complain I came here and as long as our company holds together I shall go with them when I enlisted I expected to have to endure trials and hardsips although I never expected to see so much vice as I have seen here swearing drinking fighting gambling / and sensuality have no end here I think our Captain has done all that he could do for us he has put us in ahead of 51 Companies that came here before us we have been inspected and accepted into a good regiment we shall probaly go to the Barracks in this place in a day or two at present we are quartered in a large room and bord to the adams house our bord is very good now although when we first came here we had to live on evry thing that was nasty and indecent I have not relished a meal of victuals since I have ben here we have been favored with one shirt one pr of drwers cap and shoes I am going to get a furlough and coming home to make you a visit in a week or two before we leave this / place I have not been very well for two or three days being troubled with sore eyes but let come what will I shall never have the name of a deserter I have comenced reading the testament through by course and intend to read some in it every day till I read it through and now dear Aunt as I hear the call of muster I will close this letter till I see you

 

                                                                                                Yours in

                                                                                                            haste

                                                                                                Covell Woods

 

PS

            Please write soon and oblige your nephew CW

                                                                        much love to all

SOURCES