Camp Baker March 27/62

Dear Brother
i recieved your kind
and welcome letter and
it gave me much
pleasure in hearing
from you that you was
well as this leaves me
at present we aint gone
yet but we have sent
all our things that
we did not want up to
Washington and we guess
we wont move untill
we move home there
is about ten thousand
troops goes up down the river
to fort munroe about
every day I was on picket
yesterday and I tell you
is was a pleasant sight
to see the steamboat a
[page 2]
going to and fro with
troups with out a single
shell or shot fired at
them there was so many
of our boys went over
that river that we had
to put on the picket
again some went over
and our patroll took
them and some of them
got away and has
never been taken or seen since
yet but we expect they
have got taken by
the rebels Dave went
over and got Clear and
got a piece of shell
and a giant big knife
it would frighten
you to see it it
is about 3 feet long
it is a man killer
i tell you it weights
[page 3]
about 16 or 18 pounds
it is like the one that
the Missipians [lassoed?]
our men with i am a
going tomorrow over to
the first Reg to see
that fellow and Dave
is a going to Break
the s[h]ell so that i can
send home a piece if
i can i dont know
how i can send it but
i will try to if i
have to bring it my
self you shall have it
when i get home
i should write oftener
if i had postage
stamps i should write
up when i do get postg
stamps i have to trade
for paper and pens
give my love to Mother
[page 4]
and all the folks we
have to a brigade drill
when we go not untill
hear the long roll
beat then we are off
if you dont hear
from me again for
a forghtnight you may
know that i am gone
you can write and the letter will come the sam as usul the same
as usual and i
will get them as usual
i shall keep her a
[Cracking?] as long as i
can get paper to write
with tell mother not
to run down [thing with two ????] to much for
she will get tired pretty
soon Dave sends his best respects good by
the reason is [?????]
that i speak of Jere Downs
Dave is because he is my bed
fellow and my best friend
[?] [hem?]