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Camp at Beverly Ford Virginia, Sept. 1863

Dear Uncle George,

Adjoining you [h?] are a pen and ink sketch of our Reading Room as it appears at time of drill or when we are on duty at anything. I take great care that our papers dont take legs like the sticks I sent yesterday, and the table is always clear when the Company are away. We have other Sesesh things here; below is a sketch from life of one of them, who is attached to our Brigade Head quarters, he is quite useful for carrying water, which he is here represented doing, as he carries three buckets each trip, full of water, his head is most admirably shaped for the purpose and fits the flat bottom of the pail nicely, he is of a very lively disposition, but cannot bear to hear profane language; if the men use any in his presence he absquatulates directly, they worry him considerably about the winches in this neighborhood; ask him how many pickaninies he has manufactured since we encamped here &c[,] he puts up with all the abuse the men heap on him with cheerfulness, he attends our regular Sunday worship and prays quite vigorously, he knows he's a negro and that he must not be caught out of place, he thinks he is properly named when called a nigger (at least that is the way the boys have brought him up) but he is liked by all the brigade notwithstanding he's black. The small tent in the rear of the Reading Room or tent is our (myself and bunkmates) Sleeping apartment, you will notice the bunk in the illustration is raised about 15 inches from the ground, our Knapsacks are pillows, Our Rifles hang from the top of the tent inside close to the ridge pole, to keep them dry and clear of our heads, therefore I could not show them in the picture. We have had considerable fun to day with some of the Conscripts that arrived yesterday for the 118th P.Vs. [&] 18th [&] 22nd Mass. Regts, but to commence with the fun[,] one of the 118th Conscripts asked the Majors Horse last night at 12 O'clk where the backhouse was situated, he had a piece of lighted candle with him but I did not hear if he found it or not, but the guard who watches the Staff horses told us this morning, that he had a good laugh over it at the time, he says the little horse cocked up his ears and looked awful wise but could not inform Mr Conscript; the guard thinks the Conscript done without, as he noticed him trying to find his way back. One of them came to me to night to find out where his Regt was, he had turned around twice so of course got mixed, I soon sent him right, for which he gave me a piece of tobacco, which he said is Superior. Some of them cooked all their Pork at one meal; some have eat all their rations (5 days) of sugar, already and some of them have been robbed of Blankets, Overcoats, long Boots &c which they left laying around loose, but one fellow has been placarded almost all the afternoon with the sentence Drafted on account of his bad smell. To night there is to be a dance here and already the (2) Fiddles, Guitar, Tamborine & Bones send forth their melodeous discord to [de] summer breezes, and I should entirely spoil if I missed it, (it is to be a stag party, as you know we dont associate with the ladies now a days,) we dont permit the weaker sex here, so you see we will have or expect, a lively time. The Minstrel band is part of ours and part of the 22{nd} Mass but they have been practiceing together for some weeks past. We have had a large hospital Tent pitched in the Central part of our Parade Ground (we have no other use for hospital tents at present) which is illuminated with sperm Candles, and the ground has been leveled off smooth. I am afraid I cannot resist the temptation, and I will therefore have to defer further sketching, until next letter. Good news has reached us of the possesion by our troops of all of Morris Island, and the united attack of Gunboats on Sumpter, which I like Muchly. Give them thunder, and burn Charleston. Cut off Bragg in Chattenoga, I mean his supplies, then ride Fernandiwod & Seymour on a rail Tar'd & Feathered, and Mr Rebellion will almost cave - if not altogether. I hear also from some of the 118th P.Vs. that 5 more Conscripts are in their hands waiting trial for desertion, and if they are shot I will illustrate the Execution. Excuse the soiled appearance of the sheet but I did not do it, I abtained it of Co.C. as I could not get any this size at the sutlers although I offered him 10 cts for a sheet. I have been interupted 40 times in this letter and the Sketches, and you will no doubt disaprove many points but bear gently this time. Give my best respects to all the folks, Mr Struthers[,] Pop, Mother, Brothers Sisters, and My little Wife Rosie, Tell her I have more hope now of a speedy termination of the War than I ever had, and that I hope to see her soon. Tell everybody I am awfull sick, almost dead. Write soon. My love to Yourself [,] Wife and little Switches - Yours in haste for the fun - (Dance) Your affectionate Nef Carl P.S. I have just received a Sunday Dispatch and Press from you with Pop & Son's Catalogue enclosed, I hope the Sticks arrived safe and alive, they were put in alive - And I hope they were not fools enough to die yet - give my regards to Wriggley if you write to him(,) tell him we are here enjoying ourselves instead of making some attempt to release him & others from that hell above ground - tell him if they itch to scratch. yours in haist Carl