Brattleboro, Nov. 9th, 1863.
Dear Abiah:-
I received a long letter from you last week. It was good. I commenced to answer Friday night, but had
occasion to leave the barracks, and when I returned some of our card players had stolen my candle and tipped over the ink upon the letter and spoiled that. This is the reason of my not writing sooner, and for writing upon such a soiled sheet as I now do. I went on guard Saturday morning. I am well except a slight cold that I took when on guard a week Sunday. It is slight but it hangs to me. I have been on since, without increasing it.
We are to have a better place to sleep when on guard duty than we have had. The building is cold as any barn, no place to sleep but on the floor, dare not take blankets for vermin abound there. Hope they will freeze out soon. There are nothing of the sort in the company barracks. I have seen the animals. They are monsters, no mistake. I have not been in Hinsdale since I went to the funeral. It has been my misfortune to be on some duty every Sunday morning since then. Yesterday in the afternoon was the first time that I have been to church since I came here.
We have had no snow here yet: there were a few flakes mixed with the rain yesterday morning, but there was none to be seen on the ground. The weather has not been very cold yet, this morning is about as cold as any that we have had. I have just seen Richard Chaplin. He is expecting his wife tonight, if she comes I shall see her tomorrow. I suppose Henry Johnson is in the hospital, but they had not got the list of the new arrivals made out, and as I can go in almost any day, i thought that I would not put them to the trouble to go through the wards to find him. George S. Spofford that sent from Salem is in the hospital. You remember that he was wounded at Hagurstown. I did not know him, he has grown so much and looks so much healthier than when he enlisted. He is a true soldier, no mistake in him. One of his comrades that was with him when he was wounded said that he would not leave the field, but had his gun loaded three times and fired it, resting it across his left arm above where it was broken. Such men as him are the stuff for war.
Austin Hall is another of the same stamp. He has been to Washington, and is now back here. He is trying to get a furlough to get home. If he goes you will probably know it, and there may be a chance to send some things by him. I need some shirts now. If you see mother tell her that there is a soldier at Brattleboro that lives shorter than the soldiers in the army of the Potomac, that would like a piece of cheese first rate. I have thought that they would send me something when they are doing as much for the poor soldier, giving to missions, &c;, &c, Don’t you send me any, for I can live without it, but it would please my palate first rate, but tell mother if you have a chance, we have not been
paid yet.
Were mustered last Saturday week, signed the pay roll Monday and it was sent off this morning to Washington. Capt. Brannon has gone to Pennsylvania, his boys say to bring his wife. He is not out Captain now. We are under Lieut. Loeser of the Penn 48th Regt. and our second Lieut. is a Marylander just come. I do not know his name yet. Have not asked. He is a very pleasant man. He only goes out with us on dress parade.
Sometimes I am sad, feel blue enough. You know I like action, or perhaps you will say excitement, well, let it be so, here it is all hard work, and the thought of you and the children is in my mind all the time. It is hard but my patriotism is as good as ever. I am glad that I can fight for my country. You will say that there is not much chance for it in Brattleboro. Well, I fill the place of another man here, and he does the fighting of the Rappahannock. Never mind, this war will be over soon. Our fall elections will have a telling effect on the rebels.
The detestable copper heads are pretty well used up. There is occasionally one of the milk sop traitors among the drafted men, but they do not wish to hitch with me but once I can tell you. The substitutes are far ahead of the drafted men in grip. I have not half done writing, but my fingers are so cold that I must stop, and if I can I will write more in the morning, If not I shall just send this, can send no more until pay day, as I have not but one postage stamp.
