Justus F. Gale to Sister
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I received your letter of the sixth and was glad to hear from you. I am wel as common
although I have had some cold for a few days but feel quite well now. I was on guard
day before yesterday had a very comfortable time except one two hours it snowed all
the time I was out but was not cold. yesterday it rained some and this morn it is
pleasant and nice. theire is now six Companys here and more coming to day. yesterday
at four O clock we went out on dres parade for the first time. we have got our guns
and knapsacks our knapsacks are a light square box about
sixteen inches
sqare by 4 1/2 or 5 thick with canvas sides and an oilcloth on the out side and a
chanel under it to put a coat or what you please. this is put on our back with straps
over our shoulders and down under our arms and hich to the bottom of it. it weighs
about 3 pounds. as regards my washing I have done it my self and have sheet iron
stoves in our tents & a good fire. we are in tents or rather houses that are made
of pine which can be taken down and up in a few minutes that are 16 by 24 ft &
with bunks enough for 70 men to sleep in. there is two in a bunk Steave and I are
together & the rest of the Elmore boys are in the same tent we sleep five tear
deep with only about 18 inches between the bed above & the one below. we have a
straw bed with a tick and our blankets and over coats to put over us. our foder is
rather better than it was. I found in the Worcester Co Brother Udal & Ben
& Luther Morse & George Wheat and was glad to see them Udal is one
of their seargeants. I forgot Ed Drown he is their Orderly seargant. my clothes are
some of them here which I shal send up in Wesleys valice. my valice & some of my
clothes I left to Montpr to Wm Huntingtons and a pair of Boots of Wesleys. there is a
bout 25 of our Co down to the Hospital sick with the Measles, none from Elmo Our
Captain has gone home to day dont know how long he wil be gone. I think we shal stay
here 2 or 3 weeks longer and then after all the stories we shal go to ship Island at
the mouth of the Mississippi River. I belive it is forty miles from land the island
is 9 miles long & 4 wide. I was very glad to find some money in your letter
although I had got envelopes paper & stamps before I received that. the boys wil
divide as long as they have any thing to divide before they
wil see him
suffer. I gues that I have had to stop writing many times as you did but not for the
same reason we have had to dril considerable for a few days, & now the boys are
getting ready to go to the village with the Lieutenant to look round a little while.
I am a going to get my Potograph taken before I leave here if I can with my Uniform
and gun. I believe you wanted to know if I was homesick. I often think of home and
the folks at home but havent seen home sick yet but presume I shal when I get down to
that dessolate Island. we enjoy camp life better the more we get together & get
aquainted. I want you to tel Father that I dont want my Sleigh lent unles to some one
that is rearly in a streight and wil be carful & not much at that. tel Lyman
& Myra to write as soon as they can. I want some of you to write all about the
buisness and affairs and all of the news. give my love to Wilbur and Bro ther Chases
folks & all the rest of the folks. Direct your to Camp Holbrook 8th Vt Reg Co A
and it wil come to me. I gues we shal start from here about the first of Feb. but
dont know. excuse all yistakes.
J F Gale