Cha^s

 

Head Quarters—

Portsmouth V^a

Dec 17^th 1863

 

Dear Father

                        Yours of the 14^th inst. is at hand.Thank you for the enclosed slip. I found it quite interesting, as did also the General. As you surmise, and as I informed Frank in my letter of four days ago, I arrived at Head Quarters safely, and found the Brigade just as I left it. They had heard of no marching orders. The Chaplain of whom I have spoken to you (Miller) and who has resigned belonged to the 15^th—not 21^st as you thought. You and Mother must be lonely enough now that Sallie is away. Where is Frank? You / forgot to say whether he had got orders or was still with you.

 

Col Beach of the 16^th has returned, and as Gen. Harland is President of an Examining Board, he has command of the Brig. As long as that lasts he will not resign, and my only hope of another row of buttons is in the probability of Col Beach making Major Pasco resign. This the Gen thinks is a good chance. At any rate, time will do it. By enough figuring I could get the Majority of the Eighth which is vacant, but it being such an old regiment I do not care to force myself upon older officers. You know I am about as old as the 16^th and no such feeling of delicacy comes into that question. There is a / possibility of my coming home again within a couple of months—Thus—The 11^th and 8^th Regts are re-enlisting. As soon as they have enlisted as many as will—you understand for three years more—they are going home to fill up their ranks. When they go the Gen. will get a month's leave so as to start them in recruiting, and Goddard and I will accompany him. An extra row of buttons will of course prevent me from going, and of course I shall be very willing to be so prevented. Please do not say anything about my Majority—especially to the Governor, for Pasco was appointed through the influence of friends at home, and Gov. B. thinks he is a valuable officer. It would look too much like collusion. /

 

Please tell Mother that I find my dressing-gown very comfortable now. My house is air-tight, and I have a blazing fire on my hearth—So in the evening, after the labors (?) of the day, I assume the gown and engage in literary pursuits, such as writing letters, studying tactics reading and translating Horace and Cicero. I found the last named commodities in a deserted house, and bought a small lexicon in Baltimore. Nothing could be more regal and sumptuous than our present mode of life—"Erto perpetua!" Give much love to what of your large family you have around you, and believe me

 

Your aff son

Charlie

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