Fort Schuyler N Y Harbor
H2 20^th Ind Vols Aug 15^th 1863
Emmie & Sallie
I Seat my self to day to Write
You a few lines to let you Know that I am
well hoping You and all the friends are the Same
there is no news of any importence except that
we are having a gay time of it here only the
guard duty is pretty heavy Our Regiment is
Scattered So that there is only a few of us
at a place & Sure there is a heavy guard
all the time. This is a Splendid fort When
all the guns are mounted Wil be a pretty
hard place to take there is but 154 guns
mounted but there is Room for 390. Thirty
of the guns that is mounted throw 124 lb
Round Shot I understand there is to be 2000
of a garrison here and all the defence of
N.y. Harbor are to be fuly garrisoned Which
wil give us a pretty good Sight to Remain
in the defences of N. York for Some Time
We get good Board in the fort as we could
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get at any thing except a firt class
Hotell in the citty and there is Some
difference in the price. Our Colonel is com
manding the post and we have a good time
in general can go to the citty as often as
we Wish but the Citty dont Suit Me at
present nor will not til I see the paymaster
for to tell the truth I am short of funds
for We hav not been payed Since we
left Potemac Creek Wil be al right in a few
days. Heavy Old picket duty here get to see
lots of Pretty girls While on picket but cant
let them cross the line Without a pass
I Would Rather Stop a Reb than a Women
but it must be did. Tell Grandmother that
WR <Duness?> has been drafted Complements
To all Sunday afternoon and I am so
lazy that I can Scarcely See to Write
does Grandmother Still fret about the
danger that I am in
Your Olee <Frend?>
Harvey
To Sally & Emmie