Washington Nov 29/62

Friend Hattie
I will try and write you a
few lines to let you know
how we get along out here Lew
and I ar on Guard on the long
bridge and we are in a Hotel
on Mary Land Avenew it is
a good place for the Guard we
have for a bed the soft side of
a Board but we have got used
to it and we dont know the
difference after we get to sleep.
I am sitting at one of the back
windows which overlooks the
back yard and a splendid one
[page 2]
it is to let me describe it
it is dity all over and surrounded
with a high board fence a few
old carrges and a lot of Oyster
shells aint it splendid well
that is the way with the [most?]
of them out here that I have
seen you know I dont fancy
this part of the World much
perhapps it doesnot look so
to all and this yard compares
[???] with the people. But
to look out the other way it
looks better the Patomac
looks pretty well and it is
quite a lively place for [a?]
River the boats and [????]
are passing and repassing the
r[est?] of the time. my
Post is on this end of the
Bridge so I can see all
there is going on and I
[page 3]
will tell you what I have to
do when a teem comes up I [rivets?]
step before it and stop it
untill the Seargent Reads
the pass then if it is good
I let him pass and if not tell
him so and off he goes a swearing
but dont hurt us you know and
teams aint all we have to stop
we stop every thing from a
little boy up to the President
I love to stop the Old Crow
heads and make them show
their passes we have to stay here
[too?] days now [Iam?][anow?] makes
four Sundays that I have been
on guard [night?] off well that
what did you do Thanksgiving
we got our grub and had a
first rate dinner had [????]
and it was a plesant day and
if we had bin in old Sodom
[page 4]
and had such a day we should
have had a Grand time
but we will make it up
next year if this war
gets over. How is it is there
any Lyde Small or is it
Lyde Sweetser if it is so
[???] for them so goes the
world and I expect Hat
Walker will go the same
way one of these days well
give my love to all the
folkes and kiss Mandy
for me the next time
you se her tell Frank
Soule that I will write
him soon now Hat
be stedy and not get
in to bad company and
write often and tell
the rest to do the same
Good Night OWB