Justus F. Gale to Father
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June 14th 1862Dear Father
As I missed the chance of sending this letter to day I wil write a few lines more to
you. I was glad to hear from you and that your health is so good; I am enjoying good
health now and have been wonderfully favored thus far: although I have seen some
rather poor days: since I have been to work about the cooking I have felt better than
I did before; I havent had any other duty to do since I commenced cooking; the place
where we are stopping now is only a small ville with several large plantations near
by; the boys slip out occasionally slip out in the night and bring in some
new potatoes a few chickens & some eggs and the like.
we havent
pitched our tents since we left the Island: we have stopped in bildings depots cars
and the like; I have slept every night but one in freight cars for two weeks: they
are as comfortable as our tents are: the weather is verry dry and getting bretty warm
but not so warm as commonly is here. I havent seen a rainy day since we left Vermont
only a few showers. our regiment has to do considerable gard duty but dont have any
drilling to do; there was a slave driver taken here this nooning and broug ht here
for shooting a slave. our officer talked with him a little while and let him go; it
is enough to make ones hearts blood chill to hear some of the slaves tell how they
are whipped and into stalks and the like; there was a young fellow (a slave) about 12
years old that came into our regiment a few days ago and his master
found him and got him home and prommised that he wouldent punish him but when he got
him back he gave him fifty lashes and put him into the irons and said he should keep
him there a week and give him so many lashes every day but our men went up and
liberated him from his confinement. there is another boy that some of our Co. found
in the woods one day and took him to our camp: he had run away from his master and
had been in the woods for three days: he is a smart darky and is helping Charley and
I bring watter and wood &c he is going to Vermont with us if he can get
there.
Sabbath day 15 I am wel & tough this pleasant day: although it seems but little
like Sabbath days in Vermont. Chas & I have fried about half a
bushel of pork after it was sliced up for breakfast & made coffee & I have
got washed up and it is now half past ten o’clock; Charley & Corporal Holbrook of
Hyde Park & I had all the sweet potatoes we wanted for breakfast and over a dozen
of fried eggs so you may guess we had a bully old breakfast. there is hardly any
differeance here between Sabbath day & other days; I havent heard a searman
preached for a number of weeks; it almost bothers me to tel when Sabbath comes almost
around. It is now almost time for me to go & make some coffee for dinner; Stephen
is gone a blackberreying to day and Wesley is going on picket gard to night. we hear
all kinds of rumors about the war here but I presume you get news more correct in
Vermont than we do here; when any of you write please write what they think the
prospect is about the war being closed up for we would give more to know what comes
in the Vermont papers than all they print in the South; some of the boys get the News
Dealer but there isent much in that only trash about six months old.
June 18th
we have got back to Algeers all well and safe: came back last night at
11 oclock give my love to all and remember I remain your effectionate son and friend.
please write often
I have just got a letter from Lyman dated April 27
J. F. Gale