Clifton Farm, Va.
Sept. 18th, 1864.
Dearest Wife,
The mail has come in rather unexpectedly, and will soon go out again. The mail that has arrived has not been distributed, so I know not whether there are any letters from you or not. I got one Thursday. I have nothing new to write.We remain in the same old place. There is nothing new. Sometimes a guerilla fires on the pickets, but that has not amounted to anything. I cannot allow the opportunity to pass without writing you a letter, if it is a short one. Gen. U. S. Grant is here, or was yesterday. Of course, there are many rumors of a move, and if we do move, we shall be pretty apt to fight if the rebs do not run. I think they will turn. It appears to be a good plan to keep them here. We threaten them once in a while and take a few prisoners so as to keep awake. It appears to me that I had as soon lie in camp as to move for a few days longer, or until I can eat my full meat ration. I am much better today; was the hardest up day before yesterday; Oh! how yellow I was. The worst of it was I could not drink coffee.
Yesterday I went to see Long Tucker. He had some Irish potatoes. How good they were. We have not drawn any but once since we came into this department. I am trying to get some tea from the commissary, and shall if they have brought any. Can buy tea at a dollar a pound. It is a good article of black tea.
I have not seen Zopher since we have been down here doing picket duty. There is a detail from our regiment up there now, so we are doing picket duty in both front and rear. I have not been on since I came off Wednesday night; am excusable from it now. The surgeon was very good, for I might go on.
The mail has just been distributed. I have no letters, but have got the Montpelier paper, and two that Mrs.
Baxter has sent me. She has done that several times. God bless her.
Tell the children to be very good. It is not as bad to fight, as it is to think that my children are not good, and do not mind their mother at all times, and with cheerful faces, but above all things, to use bad words is awful. Hope none of you do, and if that is so, that you do quit it right off. It would make me feel worse than to be in battle every day. Do not do it if other boys do, for it is so mean and low, and I want my boys to grow up noble, manly boys. Always speak the truth. Never swear, nor be saucy to any person, but to all old people be very kind.
The mail carrier is now collecting the letters. I have written this in as much of a hurry as I ever did a letter. Do not know as you can read it, but you must do as well as you can with it.
I wrote to Charles Carpenter to make some inquiries about a house; for him not to say much about it.
The weather has been quite nice Fall weather for the past two days. So good-bye and a thousand kisses.
How much I wish I could hear Arthur talk. Guess that “totters” taste as good to me these days as to Edward. I guess the whole world will have to go rather short this year.
Your affectionate husband,
Charles.
