Stafford Ct. House V^a

Feb 4^th 1863.

 

Dear Mother—

                        I wrote to Sarah the other day and incidently spoke of a box for the soldier boy. I thought then that Hinsdale would be the best man to bring it, but then he is very slow, and they say Adams Express Co will deliver it faithfully where our wagons can get it. Allow me to add that I stand in perishing need of said box. I enjoy the dressing gown exceedingly, and wrap it around me every night. I came in to day from my first Picket duty. I started yesterday morning at 8 O'clock, and you would have been amused to see me. I made up my mind that when I came home I should dress up as I was then for your benefit. Imagine the "young Captain", as the boys call me with an enormous bundle of blankets harnessed on his back, a well-fitted haversack over his right shoulder, and canteen over the left, an unusually heavy sword dangling by his side and occasionally tripping him up, mitten-gloves on his hands, thick over- / coat on his back, slouched white hat on his head, and pants in his boots, and you will have some faint idea of my appearance as I marched my 63 men out of camp. It had been a cold night, and the roads were frozen, so we made our three miles in good time. After posting my men, I unloaded my person and proceeded to have a roaring fire and a substanial hut built, for you must know that the wind blew a perfect storm, and it was terrible march weather. As I had had no breakfast, I opened my haversack and took out a tin cup, filled it almost full of water, let it boil, poured in—or put in—a table spoonful of ground rye peas & coffee, and then attempted to take the cup off. The result was that I spilt all the coffee, and scalded my left hand badly, and have some respectable blisters visible now. The second attempt was entirely successful, and I crumbled in some hard bread. That was meal number one. Smoked my pipe, visited my different posts and kept warm till noon. At Meridian I went through the same process as at breakfast, with the addition that I borrowed a plate (tin) fixed a handle with a birch stick, peeled some raw potatoes, sliced them up and fried them, with the aid of a junk of salt pork. / That went very well. Having heard of a house about a quarter of a mile from my headquarters, I visited the family residing therein after dinner, and find a fine old mansion standing in an enormous field. I went, I saw, and I flatter myself that I conquered. A lovely damsel of 19 summers invited me in and I beheld the father, mother and five fair daughters. I do not exaggerate at all when I say that it was as fine a nest of young ladies as I ever saw in a northern home. Well, I made quite a lengthy call and promised to call the next morning and take breakfast. I then returned and had a supper which was very similar to the two preceeding meals, and then, after putting on the countersigns "wrapped the drapery of my couch about me and lay down to pleasant dreams". Nothing of interest or alarm occurred during the night, except the capture of three wandering Sutlers, and their detention till daylight, and we all slept as comfortably as might be considering the fact that it was freezing cold, and our house was not airtight. At 8 A.M. I again visited my new-made friends and had a breakfast of cold bacon, warm bacon, hot biscuit, hot corn cake (splendid) and tolerable coffee, with brown sugar and condensed milk. Bidding all an affectionate farewell, and promising / to call often, I returned to my post and was soon relieved. Not a very unpleasant experience for the first attempt at Picket, was it? The only thing to mar my happiness was that there was a Cavalry officer apparently very much at home at the mansion, and quite attentive to the prettiest girl. This is about all the news I have to communicate, except that I am well and hungry. I have not heard from Father but once since I left Conn. and this with one letter from Sallie forwarded from Baltimore is all from any of the family. Did Father get the money—and are you all well? With much love—I am yours

                                                                                                Charlie—

 

Please put some stationery in the box

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