Camp Butler Newport News Va Nov 11^th 1861

 

Dear Sister

                        I will now try and write a few lines as I am not very buisy. I should have writen before had I not been so sick as to be unable to do so. I have been in the Hospital over three weeks and I am about tired of stoping here. I came near having a feaver and I suspose I did have it slightly. at any rate I feel very weak now. I went out yesterday for the first time, but I cannot walk much yet. It does not agree with me to work hard one day and loaf the next. If I worked every day I should feel better. But never mind I am good for one rebel yet. We are having very cool weather of late. It is so cool nights that one cannot sleep much. We are in tents now. our Hospital is nothing but a tent. We are to have a new one the Officers are to pay $5 and the privates 50 cts each there are 525 of us now, as the two Com that have been on the [?] are with us now. We are to be filled up to a Reg soon to be the 30^th pretty well allong in numbers seeing that we were the very first three years men in the field. Many of the Battalion have built wooden houses as the Gov gave notice that we would have no Barracks built for us. since then the Gov has concluded to build them and this week there is / to be no drill. all hands are cutting logs for our Barracks there are from three to four thousand chopping down in the woods. You can imagine that they will chop some. one man got killed this forenoon by a tree falling on him. they cut all in sight of this place. There are only nine of us in here now two have died since I came in here. I believe six of our Battalion have died since we have been out here all have been sent home. Our Battalion was attack about three weeks ago while after wood with 24 teams. our Battalion formed a line of battle and fired a voly at them killing three of them they took one of our men prisoners. our men chased them into the woods and they left. we kept all of the teams Gen Phelps praised them for their conduct as the Dutchmen loose their teams every time they go out. The old Gen likes us first rate. Nearly every morning there has from three to thirty Blacks escaped in boats from the other side. six white prisoners were taken in a boat by some of the Cumberlands crew one was taken on his horse the other day out in the woods. We got a new dress coat and hat to day. We are to have pants also. We shall get paid of in about a week and if I can get a pass to Hampton or Camp Hamilton I will have my picture taken and send it to you if we get our state pay as we expect we shall get over thirty Dollars. I was sory to hear of Mr Lobdell death he and I was great Cronies before I came out here / he fairly cried when I came off as I used to go and see him every night. I shall miss my thanksgiving Dinner this year I would like for the folks to send me a baked chicken but I guess they will not. I had a nice box from Albert and Marton the other day. A nice Rubber blanket and drinking tube and all kinds of eatables. I am not sick of this yet. I owe lots of letters and I do not know as I shall be able to answer them all. There are lots of blacks here now. the Gov dresses them up in good style there are I suspose about three thousand at the fort of them. We have over four thousand troops here now. I shall not go on duty for a week yet. I receive a springfield Republican once in a while I read all I can get. I hope the story is correct about our taking Beaufort SC if so we have a good port open. Gen Phelps came in here the other day and asked me if we slept warm I told him we were nearly frozen every night. he said he had a stove in his house he would give us if any one would come and get it, he said we had better keep comfortable while we could he is a fine old man. Write all the news. there is none for me to write. Excuse this Walter and Seth are well.

 

                                                                                    From your Brother

4 oclock PM                                                                                        S C Wright

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