Chantilly May 23th 1863

Dear Father
I now take
my pen in hand to write
a few lines to you to let
you no that I am well and
tough and enjoying my self
first rate it is as warm
here as it is in maine in
the midle of summer the
grass is quite tall now
and we have to drill in the
morning early and in the
after noon it is so warm that
we haft to lay still in the
midle of the day and we have
got a good place for our camp
ground it is on a nole in a
grove it is very dusty here
thare is so much traveling
[page 2]
Nelson Lowell is out here
he is in for 3 years he is
in the 9 mass batery he was
over here last sunday to see
the boys I am as fat now as
I ever was this trash that
we eat has fated the boys
up very well but I think
likely that it will come off
quick when I come to work
any I supose that if nothing
hapens we shall be in portland
they are a goin to see if they
cant get a rigt out of the 25
and 27 to come for 2 years
we have got an artilery in our
bregade now thare haint much
news onley they think that we
shant get our discharge till the
29 of June but it dont make
but a litle diferance to me
I an hapy as a clam I haint
bin any home sick since
[page 3]
I have bin in the show
this haint the worst of
places although a soldier has
a good many hard nocks to
what an oficer does O have
you got my blanket that
I sent home how do you
and your boy come on a
farming I supose that you
make thing ache. thare is a
slew of snow balls all in
bloom here is ourn in
bloson yet I hurd that Curtis
had gon home if he has
write and let me no he
haint bin very tough out
here I got a letter from
Uncle Lewis the other day
they are all well. the crickets
have got so to peep here and
the sun does pelt down
good I cant think of
much to right to day
[page 4]
onley the boys are all well
and them that was sick are
geting well fast I should
like to have you come to
Portland when the rigt comes
in if it is so you can
give my love to all
and a share for your
self so good by
from your son
E Turner
write soon
I want you to write
and let me no if
you got my money