Brattleboro, Mar. 16, 1864
Dearest wife,
I seat myself this pleasant morning to write. Shall I say that I am homesick? The weather has been of the
finest kind for several days. It is just the weather to make a man that has been accustomed to out door life feel a little gloomy. We are not shut up, but the barracks and camp generally look gloomy enough, you can imagine how much so as well as I can write.
I do not know as I shall ever get a chance to sit down and write a letter to you without interruption. You remember I mentioned the piles of chips, ashes, straw, etc. etc. that have accumulated in camp. These pleasant days have brought it to light and we have had to go into it for the last two days. I shall make a good overseer. This is March 18th. I am on guard today and am writing by candle light in order to get this off this morning. It will not be a long letter, for the drum is now beating at the hospital. Ours is a little behind.
You are perhaps anxious to know when I shall go to Washington. It will be some time yet. We have just got
to drilling. Cannot learn without drill. It will be some time yet, perhaps I shall not at all. Hope the war will end. There is a great rush for commissions in the negro regiments. Of course the examinations are more strict, as the materials are more plentiful. There go the drums, and I must fall in for roll call. I do not know as I shall try the negro regiments at all. I am about through with the company drill. Can answer about nearly every question that can be asked me. That is all that is required for a lieutenancy. I think that these companies will remain here for sometime yet. There has been a great effort made to get these companies into the 17th Regiment. I for one do not wish to go into that Regiment. Should prefer the negro much. Shall try to get away. If that does happen you need not say anything about my having any hesitation about my going into the regular army, as my friends might think that I did not appreciate the interest they felt for me. I do. My health is very good, except those sores I have been trying the blood root thoroughly, but it does not seem to do much good. We eat so much meat. It will keep the blood bad. We have new cook now and have bought something to cook with. We live very well.
Our salt beef is worked into hash and sometimes bake the fresh meat. Our living is the best now, that it has been since I have been here. Fred is here now. He has come up to sell his farm. I cannot get a chance to go there. Shall try when I come off guard. I can get over there at almost any time, but can stop but a few hours, and the roads have been so muddy that it would not pay and there is so many of the men going home that I cannot get a pass to be gone twenty-four hours, without its interfering with someone going home, and I do not wish to keep any man from his home, even for twenty-four hours. I must close. Will try to get a better start next time.
Yours in love and affection,
Charles.
