make a fortune by bringing down a few of the Centralia girls and showing them at two dollars, provided you would show on a ciruit or take sutlers tickets. I have been out taking a game of town ball. Nearly all our Co. is playing. It is good, healthy exercise. Leander, I could a sold those stamps in two minutes at 5¢ a piece and could a loaned them out as fast as I could a tore them off. I have given away ten already. It makes Hugh and Silas mad for me to give them to the boys, but Lee, I can't help it when they ask me for one. The boys have nearly all got their hair cut off close to the skin, me amongst the rest. My hair is not a half inch long. I have not shaved since I left home, nor had my whiskers trimmed. My beard is four or five inches long. My mustache heavy. I do not intend shaving till I get home, if I should be so fortunate to ever see my home again. I do hope John will not try to soldier till he is perfectly able to stand a little harder soldiering than he ever has. Tell John we had to take some more in our tent, Elifritz, J. Smith, and C. Beal. Capt wanted to take some more in our mess, but we told him we would rather not. We wanted mess no. one to remain as it was, so we remain as we was. Our mess suffered more in the battle than any other mess according to it's no. Five men badly wounded and Andrews since died. So it only leaves nine since John left. Capt McKee has come in making our mess a no. one all over, and the most intelligent mess in this Reg. The best fellows, the bravest boys, can kill more Secesh, and eat more hard crackers and stand more hard marching, wade deeper mud, and do less grumbling than any other mess in the Northern Army. Well, that is enough of blowing. We are very sorry to hear that John Kell will not soldier any more, he is a good fellow. We would like to see Boggs and John with our mess again, only we know they never will be able to stand soldiering again. So we want them to stay at home. But, oh, poor little Silas, we all liked him so well, he was our pet. But I guess he is doing very well. I will write to Rebecca tonight. Leander, remember and be a good boy to Zetty and Sarah.Your Brother, William
Tell James to tie that check to his gold watch with his shoe string.
Enlistment details:
Beal, Charles
Boggs, John
Elifritz, George
Kell, John [Riley]
©2006 C.S. Parkinson
