Brattleboro, Nov. 17th, 1863.
Dear wife –
It rains and has rained all night, no drill and not on guard, so have a good time to write. I did not go over to Hinsdale Sunday. It rained all night Saturday and all day Sunday. Monday it was warm and pleasant, but commenced raining when we were on dress parade, and has rained ever since I commenced this morning, but there has been so much card playing around my bunk that I had to give up writing. After dinner they took their places again with a new reinforcement. I told them to leave, or I would send their cards into the stove and a pack of fools after them, took it in good and evacuated. I have a pretty good place to write. My bunk is by a window, and the boys thought that the had got a fine place for Euchre, but they must keep clear, or I shall send them kiteing. The boys are a pretty good set, but the everlasting Euchre, I am so sick of it that I wish that I had every card in the world, that they would find the fire pretty quick.
I wrote to you something about the State pay. My information was obtained from Senator Stoughton from this county. I have since seen it contradicted. Well, I do not know how it is. One of our Company saw O. P. Chandler, the member from Woodstock, yesterday, and Chandler told him that the substitutes had the State pay. I cannot see it in that light. I doubt whether the legislature knos its own proceedings. If the town of Charleston will pay it good. I deserve it if anybody has it. I have believed that they would give it if the state did not, but I will say no more about it at present, as I cannot help myself. I was at the hospital yesterday. There is occasionally some coming here that I know. Yesterday I called upon Henry Johnson. He is pretty low, but he is improving. He said that he could not converse scarcely at all when he came. He was glad to see me I can assure you. There was one came from Company K 10th Regt. Last Saturday night, but they had not got their names down, and I should have to go through all the wards to find him. I did not try it. I have been in hopes that Jacob would be sent here. I am going to ask to be sent as guard sometime to Washington, Columbia Hospital is near the city. There are some going tomorrow, but the paymaster has not come round. We had a little fun this morning. It was raining like fun. A man was seen coming with a valise in his hand. Some of the boys cried out that the paymaster was coming. They all ran to see the strange sight, and the whole company met Mr. Gray of Charleston at the door. He has come down to see his son Charles. He is trying to get a furlough for Charles and take him home with him. I told him to call and see you. Wesley Allen went up yesterday. I sent up my valise by him with the nuts. I meant to get a box, and when I went to Hinsdale get some more chestnuts & walnuts and send them up, but the rain prevented, and there seemed so good a chance to send, and I just sent along the valise, hoping you will get it all safe. The shirts made too much trouble to take care of them. Thought I would send them home. I am well, first rate. The company are generally all well. The rations get licked up pretty clean. All grow more hearty as the get used to soldiers fare. There is not much chance to get an extra ration now. Well, I do not know how I write for the card playing is over for once for which I am thankful and the violin is going and the boys are having a good dance. I feel relieved when the cards are thrown aside and the violin starts. The boys step it out good. There are a few more recruits came in today, and five deserters, and the deserters ironed hand & foot. They are generally a rough, hard set. How I wish that I could be with you. Write me have you moved? I shall be glad to hear that you have moved and got comfortably settled down. I feel uneasy all the time about you. I have put in no application for a furlough yet. The men put in their applications when they please if they have not been home, and there are four furloughs issued at a time. They are usually for about a week at a time. There are no men at home at the present time. They are waiting for pay day. I think there are about 16 applications for furloughs in at the present time. Sometimes some of the men will give way when their time comes. In case of sickness or anything of that sort, the regular course is not observed. One of the men by the name of Reed who has a child went home on a pass and got it extended from time to time until he stayed fourteen days. I should like to go home pretty soon but the cost. If I get but thirteen dollars per month, it will be a pretty close fit to get along anyhow. Where are the new recruits? There has not a hundred and fifty reached here yet. I wrote to Kingsley last night, told him to hurry up the cakes and go in. I received a letter from Charles B. West wishing to know if he could get into one of these Companies. Thought if he could he would enlist. Said that he was afraid of a draft but Salem is clear. I am glad of it. There is no chance to get in here. They do not trust those big bounty volunteers here. They want substitutes who go in on their muscle, such can be trusted. Most of the recruits that come are from the north part of the state. There must be some drafting. Let it come. Some of the cowards will have to travel across the line or to Dixie. I think that if the army is filled up by Spring the fate of the traitors is sealed. Well, the letters have come in and my name is called. I go.
Well, I have got a letter. How much more cheerful the old barracks look now than they did fifteen minutes
ago. I would not kick the card players now if they were playing on my bed even. It has rained all day and the fact has been that I have been as cross as a bear, but it is all pleasant now. I was mad with the State, and almost everybody in it except you, and Mrs. Dudley. Well, by the by, I have a conundrum given out in the barracks the other night; after taps some nights the boys lie awake for some time, tell stories, and poke fun at one another generally. We have in our company a man by the name of Irish. He is a corporal from St. Albans, he is an uneducated man but of remarkable good sense, tall manly steady man. I take to him much. Says but little, but when he speaks it tells. The other night the boys were firing away right and left when irish proposed a conundrum. I give you these to let you know the spirit of the company. There are many fine men in the company, many a heart that yearns for the loved one at home. T a day of rejoicing there will be when this war is ended, but I do not wish to have it ended until it is ended honorably for the North, and my faith was never so good as now. If those that can come, come right along, the quicker the better. The reberls are certainly in a corner. If they had succeeded in reaching Chattanooga or do succeed it will throw us back a great way, but if it is held until the new call are all in the field, down goes the old rebel house. What are the people thinking of? Why do they not enlist faster, show to the world that North are equal to anything. Indiana is rolling out the troops in a hurry. Their new quota is nearly full. I tell you the selfishness of the legislature of Vermont the past session cast a chill upon recruiting if the subjects of their penuriousness have been the poor substitutes. Well, the draft will bring the men, and the soldiers in the army would be pleased to see coming along, if there is any squirming they will be helped along with a will. What is Morgan going to do? That patriotic town Charleston can raise her men easy enough. Browington has her men here now. There are two I think, three down here in the barracks now. If times were not so good there would be more volunteering. Well, I must let them do as they please, come along or be drafted. I am not homesick, as I told you in my last. I like my drill and my duty. It gives satisfaction in trying to do it well. Oh, but home sweet home, how I long to be there. It is in my mind all the time and the worst mistakes I have made have been thinking so intently of home that I have not noticed the word of command. There is no pleasure for me in camp life. Everything is foreign to my nature, but the drill I do like, and when on dress parade, and see the promptness of the execution of the manual of arms, I feel a kind of pride in my company. I tell you that I should like to command a company. There is no chance for promotion here. Our sergeants and corporals are all privates only acting. There is some chance at the front, but if I go there some other man must take my place here. I think that I shall not need the quilt. About how we live I will tell you next. I have much more to say, how I have scratiches a hole through the seat of my breeches, and have drawn another pair, etc. etc.
From your own
Charles
