Camp Near Culpeper Court House Va

Oct 9^th 1863

 

Dear Sister

                        your kind letter of the 4^th I received last night I assure you I was pleased to get it for it is the first that I have heard from home I was sonewhat anxious about my money I am first rate we have moved back about 10 miles from the front we was relieved by another Corps I can hardly remember when we was in the rear before we have some picket here but it is not hard as there is no enemy in our front we are out to protect Camp from Rebel Gurrillers or Scouts /

 

I am real sorry that I did not see Uncle Thomas I shall write him soon I am going to write to Ed I ought to have written him ere this but I wanted to wait till I was Captain

 

By the way I expect promotion again soon My name has been sent to Gen Andrew for Captain one other thing Iwant to tell you I expect our Regt will be sent home to recruit up with Veteran Soldiers there has been an order from Gen^l Meade to forward the vote of all Regiments whose times expires next spring or summer in reguard to re-enlisting as a veteran Regt for 3 years and be ordered home immediately & recruit &c

 

the U States offers $402.00 bounty for all such and the State gives $50.00 makeing 452.—that / is a good inducement for the men it makes no differance with the Officers we are mustered for 3 years We have got up a paper and got 76 men to sign it we have 150 men in all I hope we shall get names enough to warrent an order from Gen Meade to go home to recruit I think we shall get enough but do not build up any hopes on this for we may not get enough names the whole Regt will receive a furlough of 30 days at least prehaps more. then we come together and fill up we shall get out of this fall campaign at least and be at home Thanksgiving I do not think that we shall do much here this fall the pains now is at Chattanoga I have been expecting that our Corps would be / ordered there. if we are I shall see Ed shure you thought that I always had a a good bed we do most of the time but when we first come to a Camp for the first night or two we have to lay on the ground unless we are near to a haystack in a day or two we have a bed raised from the ground by that time we have to move some where Jim asked Mother if he should pay 2.00 & get her allotment no she had better get one of the select men to go to the treasurers office and see if they have received it there if they have they must pay it over if not I would like a notice from him that it has not been recd then I can see the Pay Master about it anyone will do it for you when they are in Boston I might have done so when I was there those portfolios I did intend to bring with me for they belong to two of the men who put them there for they could not carry them very well you can take care of them they do not care for them much I take it by the way you write that Geo Cook boards with Mother does he? /

 

you asked if I had a good time up to N.H. I did have a splendid time was sorry that I could not stay a week My friend was very glad to see me but I could not stay but 3 days I often think of home & the good times I had while there no if our Regt can only be ordered home next month I will have a splendid time that will wake up some of the able bodied men at home to see a Regt that has been through what we have been ReEnlisting for 3 years more I think they will be ashamed and Re Enlist themselves I understand that the 19^th Mass Regt have signed all but 5 men that is doing well this war cannot last a year longer as I can see I do not like this new / very well I do not know who to trust a good many have deserted now. I saw Horrise Horace Parker a day or two ago in Culpeper when we came through there I also saw Charley Pratt the same day it is the first time I have seen either of them they was well I wrote to Hattie the other day guess I shall rec one soon. Remember me to Mr & Mrs Loffard  thank them for there kind wishes also Ed & Abbie Remember me to them and to Ed and Frank Rurbeck Burbeck and all enquireing Friends

 

My love to Mother & Bro &

Sisters write again soon from

your affectionate Bro

Cha^s H Stevens

1^st Lieut 15^th Mass Vols Co "I"

 

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Brother Charles

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