Camp Butler

Newport News Va Jan 28^th 1862

 

Dear Sister

                        As I am not very buisy just now I will devote a few spare moments in writing to you. We have been having stormy weather for some past it stormed for a fortnight steady It cleared off last saturday but looks now as though we should have another storm. We have not drilled but very little of late on account of the weather. it is very mudy. You must excuse this as I have to write in a hury. I do not drill this afternoon as I have been bringing water to cook with and that clears me from drill. My teeth ache and I feel cross There is no special news to write. Everything remains quiet in these parts. There were seventeen blacks came over on / Sunday they were all young and smart. there were three women amongst them one of them being a very handsome yellow girl. she was married last night I believe nearly all of the officers in Camp were present at the wedding and the story to day is that every one of them kissed the bride. The party came over on sunday morning before light. they took a boat and came double quick. they passed by the rebel batteries with muffled oars They brought over two officers coats and sold the Buttons for twenty five cents each they also brought four revolvers which they sold for five each. they say the rebels are comeing over to clean us out of this (But we do not see it in that light) Their masters told them that all that escaped to this side we set at work and made them draw cannon all the time they planned their escape long ago they were pleased enough to think they were clear of their masters. Seth and myself and three / others went scouting the other day We took a tramp of all of twenty five miles but saw nary rebel. First we went to Sinclairs Mills where the rebels were killed a short time ago. from there to New Market Bridge just beyond. we then took a tramp down to Hampton and poked over the ruins of the town and got back to camp about dark. I believe that I was tired when I reached camp. I got some Brick of the old church and also some melted glass. I also got some of Sinclairs pianoforte. We met our Cavalry at the Bridge (or where the bridge once was) it has all washed away now if they had been rebels there would have been just one apiece they sent one man and us one to meet one another to find out wheather we were enemies or friends. The Gen said if we discovered anything to come and tell him. We are all well, so are the Bryants George came about one week ago. he says he had as lives live in a dogwood swamp / as to stop in the saloon. John Alden Bonney and some other Kingston fellows are in Camp Hamilton in Col Wardrass Regt. Dolly rides out horseback often with the officers. I wrote in my last that I would put in a piece of rebel pianoforte but forgot it. I may forget to put it in this. Marton wrote that he was going down to P to take a sleigh ride the next day. Gen Wool will grant no more fourloughs at preasant. I understand they are enlisting at home for thirty days and ninety to hold the posts in Wasington while we make an advance I hope the army will move soon. We are all right and contented I write about twelve or fifteen letters a week. I see by the papers that Ex President Tyler is dead. Well I am glad of it. his house will not be worth much to his heirs any way it is in Hampton I have been in it many times it used to be a splendid one. I go on picket guard tomorrow I shall expect to hear from Springfield tomorrow you cannot read this I will write more next time Give my love to all

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