I believe the negroes will
do good fighting if they get well drilled before they try it. They know and fully
understand that it is worse than death if taken, and they will fight to the last
if we do not have to put them at it too soon. I have been drilling mine for a few
days, and they learn very fast, faster than any white man I ever saw, but I am
afraid they will soon get tired and quit trying. I guess I will have a white
Orderly Sergeant. I offered it to John and Silas Mc, but they declined. So I guess
I will have Silas Baltzell, provided I succeed in filling my company. If I fail,
I go back to the Reg. If I succeed, and we get settled in camp, I am going to
have you come and stay with me this summer if it is not too sickly. Do not say
anything about it, but I must have you and Zetty, if I can without it [being] too
sickly or too dangerous. I have not had a letter from any of you in a long time.
I suppose it is the mail's fault. My 1st and 2nd Lieut are gone up the river
after negroes. I look for them tomorrow with ten or twenty men. I have about
fifty here. My 2nd Lieut is no. one man, my 1st Lieut is [a] pretty hard
fellow. I wrote to James and Lee yesterday and the day before. Remember William
