Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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You will be surprised to see my letter dated at this place but I will tell you
how it came about we are still on the same boat we came down on and are waiting
for the rest of our Reg. to come on and join us and I presume when they all get
here we will return to Baltimore. Two Companys have already joined us and two
more are now up the river and will be back tomorrow. while we are waiting the
Capt of the boat wishing to repair up a little came down here and we will
remain here till day after tomorrow then return to the Fortress. We
are having quite a nice time traveling around the country and the 9th can
truthfully be named the traveling Regt. The greatest objection I have to this
arrange -ment is tha tit costs $1.75 per day for board on this craft and my cash
is not everlasting but when I am amongst the romans I must follow suit. To day
we divided the contents of the satchel we captured and confiscated
from the rebel - and my share was a wallet a Port folio and some paper and
envelopes beside about 30 fine combs which I distributed among the boys of my
company so there will be no need of our becoming [crazy] for a
while
Jewett got a pipe and some other things so you see we fared
pretty well on Contraband goods. I dont know when I shall hear from you but I
presume you will get my letters as I mailed one at Balt. and one at F. Monroe I
think if you write you had better direct to Washington till you hear anything
deffinate from me as to our place of final settlement. This is more of a city I
expected to see and with Portsmouth on the opposite side of the river it must
have been quite a business part of the world at some time before the war. As we
are coming in we passed hundreds of little skiffs and men fishing or rather
raking oysters and I understand this is the greatest oyster country
in the world. They sell them at 50 cts per Bushel and to night our men are
having quite a supper of raw oysters and I dont refuse a few of them as I have
learned to like them raw or any other way. I wish I could be with you this even
in our little kitchen rather than in this cabin but fate has placed me here and
I must not grumble but close my letter for to night and fix my bed on the floor
as we are privileged to sleep there at the small [price] I am
going around the city a little to morrow and will tell you what I see. I wont
get a chance to mail this till I get back so will write more.
Good NightVal
Tuesday P.M.Dear Maria
I have just got back from a tramp up town and will not try and finish my letter
to you I did not see any thing hardly worth mentioning I traveled around for an
hour or so and saw the Court house and the most business part of the City and I
find it compares with other Southern cities I have seen in the South and has
much the appearance of Annapolis. Nearly all the inhabitants are negroes and
they are pretty thick. There are however a few white people and they are nearly
all dressed in mourning
I presume for some of their friends who have
been killed in the Southern Army. I noticed the same thing in Baltimore. I
bought me a pair of pants which cost me $10.00 I had no pants fit to wear for
dress pants so bought these. The price is large but just about the same as any
where else I had to borrow the funds. I got me a dinner of fried oysters and
returned and I think if we stay here tomorrow as we no doubt will I will go over
and see the remains of Gosport Navy Yard I will send you a Norfolk paper and one
of my spare combs but it may get broken
before it reaches you- I
would be much pleased to get a letter from you to day but no knowing when I will
again hear from you. I presume I will get one or two of the last you sent to
Chicago when our post master Chaplain gets along and that will be in 3 or 4 days
yet I presume you are getting ready or are to go to Danby or have
already gone I hope you will enjoy your visit. The weather here now is quite
pleasant much different from what it was 2 or 3 days since I hope we will get
settled soon so we will know where to have our letters directed but I presume I
will have to go without hearing from you for a few days. Kiss the children and
remember me as your aff and devoted Hus.
V.G. Barney