[Feb. 28, 1864]

Gettys Station via
Sunday 28th
My Dear wife i received a Letter from
yesterday and you dont know how
glad i was i did not think of getting
Letter till i had written yes i was
home Sick enough i tell you for a
few days But now i am getting
Settled down to camp Life But it
makes me mad to See So manny
infernal Loafers there at home
that ought to Be in the Army i
would not Change Places with
anny of them i would not Be
a citisen at any rate i glory
in Being a Soldier a man that
will not fight for his Country
Should not Live in it oh i Long
to See the day Come when all
able Bodied men will Be drafted
well i will tell you about our
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camp when we got here we found
every thing all Ready for us our tents
where all Stockaded and every thing
all Right for us i am in the Same
tent as Before with Hiram Lord and
John Parsons and a fellow from
ipwich we have got a Splendid
Camp But that is nothing new
for the twenty third the officers
have got there wifes here and they
have all got good houses to
Live in gen Heckmans quarters
are Right Back of our camp
in a Large white house the 9th
is with us and the 13th N H
and the 13th N york and the
5th Cavelry and 11th Cavelry
the fortifications are Seven miles
Long and and ten forts all
for the Protection of Norfolk
and Portsmouth we have got
Shops and Ambrotypes Saloon
anny amount of Sutlers we
[Page 3]
have to do Picket and Camp duty
our companny will do Picket
this week we go out five miles
to Bowers hill to Support the
cavelry they go about twenty
miles towards Suffolk Picket
is the Best duty to Perform it
is not So hard as camp
duty Parsons was not Left he
came on with us no we did
not Stop in Boston or N york
we Shall Be musterd in for
Pay to morrow i dont know
when we Shall get Paid off
i Suppose about the 10th of march
we will See if we Cant Lay
up Something this time i think
that we can get a good Sum
in the Bank for a wet day
i want you to get a good Pitcture
taken Some time and Send it
out i want them of Nelley
and Lizzy and Birnney that i
[Page 4]
Brought home i Shall get a
good one taken of mine
four mother and Aunt
Nelson well dear Ellen
take good Care of yourself
and the Children i feell
i hope that Birney wont
fall down them
Stairs give my Love to
all and kiss the darlings
for me i want you to
write as often as you
Can from you affectaite
Huband
Joseph Barlow