3rd Massachusetts Infantry

Item LTR-6066

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 2 pages written in period ink.

Camp Jordan
Newbern

May 6, 1863
Dear Parents,
As the mail closes at ½ past 11, I will try to get a few lines in.
I have just got through with the morning call so I have not much time to write in. Yesterday I had one letter from Aunt Sue and last night another mail arrived and I had one from you and one from Grandfather. I shall answer his this afternoon. I don’t like the way the mails go. The steamer say will get in tonight and tomorrow at 11 o’clock it goes again, which don’t give us much time to write in.
Well I suppose you are anxious to hear from me. I have got over my rheumatism and went on duty this morning the first time for 3 days. I shall get along nicely now, I guess, if I take good care of myself. I am not very stout yet but I am gaining every day and so is my appetite. Dr. Howes says he’s got me “all right” and time will bring me where I was before.
He had quite a laugh when I told him what you wrote about medicines—especially calomile and for that is something that I have not seen since I’ve been apothecary. It is something that we do not use.
Out time is out the 23rd day of June. That is what came to the Colonel from Washington but whether we will leave here before or after the 23rd, I can’t tell but the talk seems to be that we will leave before the 23rd.
I am surprised to hear that you have not received the money from the Hosser for I thought you received it some time ago. I don’t see why the Bedford Office doesn’t pay if the other offices have.
The weather with us is very warm so that yesterday down in the city the thermometer was 105 in the shade. It is so hot that we have drill from 7 to 8½ in the morning and from 4 to 5½ in the afternoon. So you see they have to take the cool of the day to drill in.
Give my regards to the family and all enquiring friends. You must excuse me for not writing more, for I only had ½ an hour.
John Barnett is getting along nicely but I don’t think he will get home before the middle of May. Goodbye for this time.
From your only son,
Chas. F. Brayton