Justus F. Gale to [Family]
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I wil try & write a few lines to let you know what is going on in our encampment.
there has not been much of interest in camp Holbrook for sometime except our drill:
until yesterday there was an inspection of the regiment & the Artilery Co: &
Six Co. of infrantry wer sworn into the United States service: & the other four
wer this morning. there was a few that refused to take the oath, but I think they wil
take them along with them our fair is about the same as ever rag hash soup and some
boild
beef & potatoes I have had a cold for four or five days but I
feel better than I did but cough & bark a goodeal of the time. I received the
kind letter from Samantha & Almeda of the 15th last night & was glad to hear
from home & that they was getting along so wel: but I am sorry to hear that
Mother is so used up. as soon as I got my letters read I went to the officers to se
if I could go home but we are so buisy just now that I cannot get away now, and I
have about concluded that I shal not get a chance to come home before we leave here.
there has not been much snow here since this month came in not more than 2 or 3
inches it has been clear pleasant weat- her the most of this time: there
has is not more than 2 or 2 ½ feet of snow here not much like Elmore
according to what you wrote & I have heard. the boys have some good times on our
drill ground. there is three or four boys in the reg that have been in circusses and
others that are almost as good: we get out and form a ring & have quite a show a
good hearty laugh: & a most any thing that you can think of. I received a letter
last night from uncle Merrill they was all wel as common except some cold. Ira
Nichols is very sick with the fever & they had serious fears about their
get his getting better. I have got another picture that I shal send home by
some one that is down from that way. I thnk I shal send it by Mrs Woodbury
to be left at the Postoffice. if I had known that I should not had a chance to gon
home I should sent home to had Charley come down here but dont know as I could have
found out long enough before hand so as to sent & then I could sent my pay home
& had a good visit to. I wish he could be here a few days.
I wil stop writing for now and wait a spel before I finish this til something more
comes along about our going off &c. I havent made up my mind who I shal send this
to so I write about as it happens. Feb 22d/62 there has been quite a snow storm since
I finished the above, about 8 inches there has not been but little blow: is cleared
of warm & pleasant to day so that it thaws around the houses.