Camp Carusi  May 1   63

Dear brother and sister

                                    As it is the first day of may and we have the privolage of going whare we are a mind to I thought I would spend a part of the time in writeing to you I am well and hope you are the same the boys are enjoying the day very well in scouting our Col gives us many privolages that the rest of the Brigade dont get and we have had the least sickness and lost the least men of any of the five Reg in the Brigade I had a letter from Mary last week that informed me of the death of your Brother James Botchelder and it was sad news to me for he was about the same as a Brother to me here and to think how full of ambition he was the last time I saw him and that was when we was at the sholes a short time before I was sick it was hot little chance I had to get aquainted with him but a man will soon know who his friends are here and I never shall forget the knight that he came and hunted threw the snow at Camp Vt to find me and took me to his tent and made me comfortable for it was an awful knight and I know that you and all of this relatives must mourn the loss of so noble a fellow as he was and they are not the only ones to mourn for we all mourn the loss of a true soldier but we have got to give him up and we may rest ashured that he is not in a world of wars and contention well I suppose you have got done shugering up thare by this time and will soon be to work on the land for it is getting to be time and it is very pleasant here today.

I was on Picket knight before last and thare was three diserters from the Rebil armey come to our post and give themselvs up and I took them in to camp to our Col and he has sent them to Washington they say that all they have for a days ration is 1 ½ pound of corn meal and a small piece of Pork they have to wet the meal with clear watter and bake it themselvs and they say thare is a grate many diserting but we expect thare will be a heavy Battle fought some whare on the Rapahanac soon for both Armies have mooved up the River and the length of the war will depend much on the way the Battle turnes for our forces in the west are doing nobely now I had a letter from Samuel yesterday he is at Norfolk Va but will probably have to moove as the rest of the Armey mooves and as for when I shall be at home I cant tell but I understand our state pay stops the 27 of May and the old Col says that we shall get the start of them and be in Brattelboro but I hardly think we shall be thare so soon so I will bid you good day fo now write soon

            Yours truely

 

                                    F. G. Corlis

 

S G and to Corlis

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