Portland Ky.

Oct 15^th/62,

 

Dear Parents & Brothers,

                        I once more take my pen in hand to write a few lines to you. I am gaining very slowly, but I do not yet think that I will ever be able for active service. I received yours of the 2^d, I believe it was. the rest of the boys left 2 weeks ago last Sunday, for Bardstown, about 40 miles from here there were 17 of our Regt left here, on account of sickness, 6 of which are of Co G. John Bellows, and Jesse Markley are here with me. we are in a convalescent Camp now, and well provided for, and have as good care as can be expected. there are none here in / this camp excepting those who are sick, and some that cannot get to their Regt on account of the Rebels. we are encamped right on the banks of the Ohio now, across the river from New Albany, and about a mile down the river from Louisville, on the border of a little town called Portland. we shall stay here untill we are able to perform active service, or discharged from service. we are formed into a Battallion. our Doctor wrote a letter to Gov^r Morton the other day, to know what to do with us. Gov^r Morton was in Louisville the other day, and gave the doctors a regular blowing up for not discharging those who are not able for service, that is, the Indiana boys. I am just well enough now, so that I do not care what they do, discharge me or keep me here. I aint home sick a bit. /

 

J Markley had the Ague, but is well now again. John Bellows is out of Camp, at a private house his disease is inflamation of the Spleen. his Liver is affected some too. he was very sick, but is better now. Jesse and I have just been out to see him. Dan Uplinger is here with us, he has been sick for some time, he had better be at home. Provisions are very dear here now. Butter is scarce at 40 cts for lb, Flour 5.50 pr barrel, and Eggs 20 cts pr Doz, and other things accordingly. Uncle Sam gives us plenty to eat just now, sometime ago we had rather hard fare for several days. well Gen Nelson was shot that is so, and there are more that ought to be. Gen Buell was under arrest for not taking Bragg when he had a chance to, but has got clear now, and has got / command of his Brigade, by making a promise to take Bragg within a short time, or before he left Kentucky. the news came this morning that Bragg was surrounded. I hope he is, I would like to be along with the boys. the rebels seem to be discouraged. it seems so at least by the talk of the rebel prisoners brought in here. they are generally a hard looking set, poorly clothed and poorly fed, and if they knew the true state of matters, they no doubt would lay down their arms and quit fighting, but I am pretty sure the story will be told before many months. what do the folks in our neighbourhood seem to think about it. we cannot hear much news here unless we buy 5 ct papers every day, and that dont pay. I wish you would borrow a paper some times and send it to me. It will only cost you a cent. I would like to have one of Henry Buchers once in a while,

HALT. /

forward, double quick, MARCH.

 

I want you to send me 5.00 of that money if you have got it yet. I have been out of money for some time and had to borrow a little, and being without money here goes kind of tough sometimes. I volunteered to stand guard the other day, but it did not go very well, so I guess I wont go any more. well I dont hardly know what else to write, unless it is to tell you that if we catch Bragg it will be no use to try to hang him, for his head is so soft that the rope would slip up over it. we have lots of fun here, thats about all we have to do. there are men here from almost all parts of the country, and world too. this regiment is a mixture of / the cripples of all other regiments, and while I look around me I can see some pretty pale faces, and downcast looks. you need not fret any about me, for I have never been at a place yet where I could not take care of myself, and get along somehow. all the fault that I find is I am getting so mischevious that I dont know what to do with myself. we dont go to extremes with our fun though. we have prayer meeting here in our mess every once in a while. I have seen but one fight since I left home, and one of the men was drunk then. you cant find a set of men in the world more joined together than the Union Soldiers are. /

 

I want you to try and find out J Schenks address, and also J. Gehrings. I wrote to Luke Homer, but he has not answered it. the next time you write I want you to write all you know and a little more, just as I have done. give all the folks my respects, and send me a little more red pepper. I am in a hurry to finish my letter, for we will have some fried beef for supper, and that is just about ready. you may address your letters Nobody but, Portland, Ky

 

Write soon and send all the money you can conveniently spare. give my respects to Jake and Mary. I have had no chance to get my likeness taken. I you would all send yours on sheet iron, without case. / tell Jake and Mary I want theirs.

 

the weather is quite nice and comfortable here now.

 

I must close for the presant, so much from your son

                                                                        Wm O Albright

 

Wm Albright,

            & family.

 

                        Portland

                                    Ky

 

I have just eat my supper, that beef went first rate.

 

I hope this will find you all well.

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