Charley

 

New Berne N.C.

May 4^th 1864

 

Dear Father,

                        I wrote Frank not long ago, and I suppose you read the letter. Since its date I have experienced nothing worthy of note, nor do I owe you a letter, still, as it is quiet this afternoon, and I have nothing more important to occupy my time I will drop you just the least little bit of a line, to let you know that I am all right, and to keep you posted as to my whereabouts. Gen. Harland to-day assumed command of the Sub-District of New Berne. Before Gen Peck was relieved, Gen Palmer had this command. Now he / has Peck's place, and Harland has his. It is a very pleasant post—the most so of any the Gen has ever had, and if we are "let alone" we shall not regret, on personal grounds that Washington was evacuated. We are all feeling very sad in regard to the burning of the last-named place. Just as the troops were leaving, somebody fired the town, and nearly the whole is in ashes. When we consider that there are a great many Union people there, who have taken the oath and are every way a part of us, and that this fire leaves them houseless and penniless, no wonder that we drop a tear over their misfortunes. I got very well acquainted with a good many people there, and it is hard to think / of them as being deprived of their homes by our soldiers—the same homes where we were so welcome at all times. The General left town the day before the last troops, but left positive orders that the place should not be destroyed or in any way disturbed. The officers claim they took every precaution against a fire, and lay the blame on the Gunboats. They again attribute it to private soldiers. It will probably never be known who did it, and so the Yankees as a class will get the credit of it in southern papers and proclamations. It almost ofsets the butchery at Plymouth and Fort Pillow. We get the Bulletin regularly now, but no news. We are equally quiet here. Positively no accounts of / any Rebels much this side of Kinston. Miss Eliza Perkins is here, and lives nearly across the street from us, with Chaplain (now Captain) James. Did you get a Richmond paper I sent you when I first came down here? Has Sallie come back—Has Frank gone away? Does Theodore get along well at Worcester? Do you hear anything from the other members of the family. Is Mother conquering her headaches? Is it hot. Are the trees leaved out, as here? Do you think any of the present generation will see the end of the war: and will you not write soon to

 

 Y'r aff son

Cha^s

SOURCES