University of Virginia Library

1863-02-22

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Yours of the 18th ult. is at hand,
having been forwarded from Somersville, Va; and I will
have to answer it in brief to=night, as we are under
marching orders for to=morrow morning at 3.30, and
I do not know when I shall have an opportunity
of writing again. Our destination is unknown to
your humble servant. I do not know of any regiment
in the service which has been moved about quite as much as
the "Gipsies," as Genl Wise used to call us.—
I am glad to hear that you are having good times
in old Southampton. Do not imagine that the
toils and privations of a soldier's life have made
such a misanthrope of me that hearing of those
good things you describe would cause "hard
thoughts." As far as wishing myself out of the
army is concerned I have wished it long ago,
but shall only get out honorably—either an honorable
discharge or death.

Give my "Best" to all the friends and espe=
cially remember me to "Katie darling." How I wish
that instead of lying down to=night with my cold
and bony masculine bedfellow, and being bothered
by those parasites which even poor soldiers have, I
could have the pleasure of folding — a — — what
in the D—l was I going to say? The tattoo

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