Norfolk Va Jan 24th [1864]

Friends At Home

I take this
opertunity to write to you
to let you know that
I am well I guess that
you be gan to think that
I was sick or some thing
was the matter that I did
not write I have ben so busy
that I could not get time
to write I have ben away
for two or three days back
they sent me down to the
eighty first regt with some
recruits they are stationed
twenty five miles out of
the city I did not have
a very pleasent time for
it rained almost all
of the time that I was
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gone I went on a tug boat
but I was on the uper deck
most of the time to see the
country as we went along
I am one of them kind that
wants to see evry thing
that is a goin on. Chauncey
started for home last fridy
and probly is thare before
this time I tried to go with
him but could not I offered thirty
five dollars for a furlough but
could not get one I received
a letter from home last
thursday you wanted to know
how mutch money I had sent
home I do not know I have
not kept count of it I
do not know wheather
Chauncey has or not
I will leave it with him
to say how it is we have
[page 3]
not ben paid yet and thare
is no sines of getting payed
for some time to come some
think that we shall not
get paid untill march
then get four months pay
I hope that we shall for
we nead money here if
enny whare I would like the
pies that I healpt carry
last weak thare was three
reffagees came in last
weak that had eleven
thousand dollars in gold
they under took to send it
north without letting
us know it but we was to
smart for them and found
it out and had them arrested
and taken before gen Butler
I had to healp carry the money
it was as mutch as a man
[page 4]
wanted to carry you said somthing
about me reenlisting you nead
not be alarmed about my
enlisting for thare is not mony
enough in the whole of the
town of Southwick to hire me
for three years longer I
like to be a soldier well
enough but I do not like
to be drove like a niggar
nor be on an equal ground
with them a while man is
considerd as good as a niggar
if he behaves him self as well
I mean to stand it eight months
longer then I shall have a
chance to go whare and when
I am a mind to only eight
months from to day then for
old southwick for good


Alfred. Holcomb.