U.S. Barracks, Brattleboro, Jan. 7th, 1864
Dearest wife,
I will attempt to write you a few lines. I saw Zopher.
Jan. 10th.
You see just how far I got with this. I have seen Zopher twice after I commenced this. I went to the barracks that Zopher was in, and he had left the day before for Washington as guard. He will be back this week. The recruits come in slowly. I do not have so much to do. I tried for some time to get a chance to go to Hinsdale. Went over Friday night and stayed all night and today got off. There is no doubt but that Zopher will get a furlough before he goes back to his Regiment. Well, I think that I shall come up with him if I can get a furlough.
I think that I shall go to Washington this week probably next week. I wish to see Mr. Baxter. Major Bartlett Amasa told me last night that he thought it might be fixed so that I might remain there a day or two and come back by myself. If I can do that I shall go. I asked Captain Brannon if I could go. He said yes any time you please. I have not told you anything about what, well will tell you. Baxter thinks that I can get a commission. He wrote to me and to Major Austin. The Major gave me a Casey’s Tactics, and told me that he would help me and examine me and when I was fit to go on, why go. This is for a commission in the regular service, and be assigned to a colored Regiment. This press of recruits was then just coming on. Have not studied at all. Major Bartlett and other officers say that the best thing that I can do is to get transferred to a regiment and drill, take command of squads. I know that in that way I can soon master Casey. I have not drilled in anything but company drill and Batallion drill will be pretty dry work. I shall come home before I do anything more than to see if I can get a transfer. So make up your mouth for a kiss one of these days. Say nothing about what I have written.
Well, I will say nothing more about it now. I have been over to the bakery today and took dinner with Warren. He makes a good soldier and a good baker. He is very steady. Zopher will have a chance to see Jacob probably. I am well. I am not as gray as I was when at home last. What is the reason? I have just put nothing on my hair or whiskers but cold water and have worked with a rush. How I wish to see the children. Tell them to be good and mind you. I shall come home by and by. I believe if I had started home that steam power could not move me fast enough. Oh, it will be a happy time, when I can feel your warm and loving cheek against my own. Well, it will come. Say to Mr. Tyler that Colburn passed an examination and got a furlough to go home and came to me to borrow some money to go home. I did not let him have any. I could not find George W. Mitchell. He has gone home on a furlough. I did not let him have it. I have let some eight dollars go, so now if he should happen to be as sick as most of them that go home on furloughs he would not get back here for a month. I think that he has not gone. I saw him around today.
I must tell you about John Willard. He was reported here after dark, one man with him. The Captain sent me out to call the roll. I did so never thinking of John Willard. Went in. It was pretty cold, and the Captain says “Come in boys.” I sat down to writing. One of the men came up to the back of the chair and asked if there was a man there by the name of Charles Blake. I looked around and saw John sure enough. They says “no, Blake has deserted.” John stepped back and asked an officer that was standing there if it was so. He replied “Yes.” John doubted. They told him the Captain would know. John came up asked the captain what he deserted for. Oh! Says the captain, “because he is a rascal. Didn’t you know he was a rascal?” John says pretty smart short, “No, I didn’t.” Well, says the Captain, there he is. John came up and shook hands. The next day he was examined and rejected, got his transportation and went home. I suppose I wrote the certificate. Tried to fix it so that he could get home on them and tell no lies. Don’t know how he made out. Have not seen him since.
Tyler wrote me to let him have money to get home but he had gone long before. Say to Tylar that I will leave his money with the captain’s wife if he does not order otherwise. If he does not come down before Friday I may be gone. If I do so I will leave an order with the Orderly Sergeant of Company B. If you want some money write me. I have got thirty dollars, and we have signed for pay again. My money gains a little. If I go to Washington mean to make it gain a little more. If I only had the money to operate with I could make considerable. I have just gold hold of a chance to do something in the watch business. There was a good many in it. Zopher has a good chance, but I do not want you to want for money. Do hire a girl, if you need one and I know you must. I have thirty dollars, nine more due me, eight in certain hands and twenty six due pay day. Wesley Allen is in the hospital; don’t know when I shall get it from him. If he is able to sign the pay rolls when the detachment for the 8th Regt. leaves it will be all right. I mean to live yet. It is hard to be separated, but it will come round all right. I shall find out who friends are. I have not used masonry at all there is nothing due to that. I shall see you in a few weeks and then again write soon. Do… I have tried several times to write to you, but have failed to get far. Told Zopher to write and tell you how it was. Shall have no excuse for not writing after this, I expect, so will say good by to you, my own dear wife.
Yours affectionately,
Charles.
