Letter from Gooch , Charles W.

Soldier: Gooch , Charles W.
Allegiance: Union
Unit/Service Branch: 27th Infantry
Home State: Maine
Date Written: Sunday, March 15th, 1863
Location: Camp Genl. Casey, Virginia
Correspondence Type: Letter
Subjects: Daily Life, Eastern Theater, On the March, Wife/Girlfriend
 

My Dear Wife,

With pleasure I improve these few moments to inform you that I am well and hope you enjoy the same blessings.

Today has been a busy day with us. We packed napsacks and put on our best cloths and blacked our boots this morning for a general inspection and review and was in the harness til past noon marching and countermarching but no one came while we were out but after we came in some of the dignitaries came from Washington and we have got to come out again at 2 1/2 o'clock P.M. but it looks very much like rain and I do not care much if it does for they have no business here Sunday having a grand mele at our expence. They had better do as the people of Miniver did than to have so much horse rareing and hilarritee Sunday.

I have not anything new that I can write but I thought I would write and let you know that I was well and not so much demoralized yet as to approve of such unnecessary work Sunday but I do not know as it makes much difference for they might as well be hung for an old sheep as a lamb. The drum beats. I must go.

One hour later. We was in line at the hour designated and there was two worthys there from Washington. One was John M Goodwin from Maine, the other I do not know who he was. Some of the boys said he was agent for northern lights but I cannot watch for the truth of the assertion. It commenced to storn as soon as we got in line so we had dress parade and came to our quarters.

I received a letters from you Friday with some stamps. I was very much oblidged to you for the letter and stamps. Also I think you are a well wisher to me and I hope I shall be placed in circumstances again where I can repay you as I ought.

I enclose a steeletto which I made for you (I did not know but what you might want to make some holes in some little things) You must excuse for you know that I love to joke sometimes.
Our Paymaster has not come yet and I do not think there is much signs of it yet but I wish he would not on my part but I should like to send the money to you when we was payed off before. I kept $12 dollars and sent $10 to you. I have $5 now and have lent one so I do not think I have done bad. Some of the rest of them sent home 15 and $20 and some kept the whole of theirs and about all in the company have had any quantity of suttlers tickets and been out of money for more than two months but I do not know as the financialdepartment of the company will be interesting to you and I will stop.

You wanted to know if G Wakefield was sick. You hear all the news. I see he has been sick with the yellows and pain inside and back but he is about well now. I think if he was at home he would be at work everyday. In your next please tell me if there is any suspicious stories going about Mrs G. W. and Mr A.C. I hear some news out here. There I guess you will say what aletter this time but it is made up of adds and ends but my love for you has not odds or ends and I hope to manifest it to you by my good deeds. So hopeing soon to meet you, I close. From your affectionate husband, C W G (Charles W Gooch)