Letter from Gooch , Charles W.
| Soldier: Gooch , Charles W. |
| Allegiance: Union |
| Unit/Service Branch: 27th Infantry |
| Home State: Maine |
| Date Written: Wednesday, March 18th, 1863 |
| Location: Camp Genl. Casey, Virginia |
| Correspondence Type: Letter |
| Subjects: Comrades, Daily Life, Eastern Theater, Friends, Wife/Girlfriend |
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My Dear Wife,
With pleasure I improve this opportunity to inform you that I am well and hope you enjoy the same blessings.
I suppose I hardly need remind you that it is just five calender months today since I left all I hold dear on this green earth to go no one knew where but through the mercies of a kind providence I have been spared and kept from maladies which none are exempt from thus far and I hope that nothing will befall either of us and that in less than three months from this day we may meet again where we last parted in the full enjoyment of health and strength where we can lay down at night without thinking of the loud revelee which beats every morning at day break and bids the sleepers awake. I would not have you think that I forgot the soul of one has fled or rather there is one little one that used to form part of our circle cow sleeps in the cold ground with her little arms folded acrossed her breast with upturned face ready to hear the revelee that awakes the sleeping millions of the grave.
When I make a little ring or anything for our little one tthat was left us when the other was taken, it makes me think that I ought to make another and sometimes I can hardly persuade myself but what I had when I could see how plane she used to look when I gave her anything that pleased her and how she used to scream but I will change this conversation lest I tire your patience.
We have not done anything since Sunday. The weather has been stormy and the ground so muddy that we have not had so much as dress parade and there is some snow now on the ground. I have not got anything new to write to you. In looking over the two pages I hav written I have made so many mistakes in leaving out words and substituting words that I fear you cannot make any sence of it.
I received a beautiful letter from you Monday saying you and Gussy was well which I was very glad to hear.
There is an old fellow in our company who pretends to be a medium. He was in our den today and tipped our thing which takes the place of a table. He drumed out that we was going to Portland the 15th of May and would be mustered out the 30th of June and that we should stay here 3 or 4 weeks longer and then move to the relay house and finish our time out there but I believe as much of his sayings as I have a mind to and you can do the same. I wish I had some good news that would interest you but I have not and so your letter will be dull again this time.
I enclose here two rings: one for Gussy, the other for William's little girl if they will fit their fingers and if Gussy is asleep when you get them; put hers on her finger and write to me what she says when she wakes up and sees it.
I shall go out on picket Saturday I expect and I may not get a chance to write Sunday but I will write as soon as I come in if nothing happens to prevent so if you do not get your next letter in time do not feel uneasy about it.
And as I have nothing more that I can communicate to you, I close hopeing soon to see you. Your affectionate husband C W Gooch
PS Keep up good heart. I will come by and by I hope.
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