Atlantick Hall

Norfolk July 6^th 1861

 

Dear Nannie:                                                                                    

                        I have just received your letter and as I am in town today I will answer it. I wrote to [?] since I wrote you last but you did not say whether she got it not I have nothing to write except to tell you what fourth we had. it was quite a lively one. we had a presentation of our flag which was sent to us by a young lady from Lynchburg. On the morning of the fourth we marched to an encampment near Norfolk where we fired fifteen guns then after a short drill returned to the camp where we had a splendid dinner of every thing that was good then at five Oclock PM we had the presentation of our flag amid a large assembly of ladies and gentlemen from Norfolk and the surrounding neighborhood we had four or five speaches delivered by members of our company and while speaking a large steamboat came puffing up to the shore loaded with ladies and gentlemen from Norfolk which added considerably to our extensive crowd. after speaking ice cream cake and wine was handed round untill the effects of the wine could be seen / acting on a good many of the party but effecting no disorderly conduct. after the crowd had retired which was pretty late and we got through with supper we got up our Instruments and had a real Fandango or rather what I term a Bull dance which lasted untill about ten Oclock at night after which time we had to go to roost We are living as well as ever if any thing rather better as vegetables are increasing I like to have forgotten to mention that Rev Pet Peterson was out to see on the fourth he promised to come out and preach for us to morrow week he is station in Portsmouth You as me how I like my occupation as teamster I like it very well as long as it exempt me me from guard duty and a goodeal of other confinement besides I can go to town verry often by having horses to attend to I have found out by experience that washing is a very hard task for my hands are verry sore now from washing the other day while washing I rubbed all the skin off of my hands at least off my nuckles I have come to the conclusion not to wash any more as long as I can have it done we had several gentlemen down to see us from Lynchburg this they were highly pleased with our situation I must bring this hasty note to a close as I am in a considerable hurry I / am verry well at present but liked to have died the night of the third inst I had something like the cholery some ten or fifteen of us was taken with it in two or three hours time I went to the Dr tent to git some medicin for Robby and by the time I got to our tent I had to take part of it my self the sickness only lasted about three hours we are all as well as ever Give my respects to inquiring friends Joe Hamner and tell him I would like verry much to see him down here I know he would be highly pleased to go out sailing and catching Oisters and crabs                       Your Brother

                                                                                                David

 

P S I wrote to Anna what kind of shirts I wanted, if they were made of brown or some corse linen would do as well as any thing else make them with wristbands

                                                                                                David

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