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Miss M. J. SpaffordUpper FallsVermont

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Camp Griffin Va.Wednesday Oct 30th /61My Dear Sister –

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I recd the letter which you & Lizzie wrote last friday, a few days since, and as I have not written you for a number of days will do so to day. The letters for Co. C. are given me every night to distribute and I feel disapointed if I do not find one for myself almost every night. I cannot complain much however, for I get many letters, more than any one in the Co. I guess unless it is Cort Barrett. – We were expecting that there would be

a review of the Army of the Potomac on the grounds of the Vt 4th to day but for some reason it has been posponed. It will be a splendid sight to those unactomed to such sights, but for me I would rather spend the day in Greenbush. I like this kind of life better than I expected to, and stand it better. – I recd the papers with those handkerchiefs in them, both all right. You can send such small things in papers, & I wish you would send in the next one, some stocking yarn, and a piece of sealing wax, & two stamp, one a shield, the other the Artillery butten which has a cannon on it. You will find them in my drawer in the desk. Sometimes I have envelopes I cannot make stick well, and can get nothing here to do it with.

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I do not know how long we shall stay here, tis a pretty good place. When we came here we were the first Regts on the ground (the Vt) & the field where we are camped was a beautiful clover field, the clover looking green and fresh about 5 inches high. Now there are many Regts. here, and the clover has nearly all disapeared being trod down by the Cavalry, Artillery, & Infantry, which comes here every day to drill. It looks like a plowed field all rolled down hard. I will send some clover which is growing in my tent, so far back under the side that we have not killed it by lying on it. – Our next move will probarbly be to Vienna. I expect we are waiting for that Naval Expedition to make a strike, and draw many of the troops now in Va. further south.

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There is a daguerreotype man just putting up a saloon which will go with this Regt. Just as soon as I can, after he get to work I shall have a picture taken & send you. We have all recd our dress coats and they are nice ones. The cloth is as fine as the cloth which my last blue coat was made of, and they all look almost as nice as officers uniforms. A few rods off tis hard telling them apart.

They say we are going to be paid off the first of next month again, if so, I can send home a little money tho’ a fellow needs more here than any one would suppose. In the first place they have paid us no clothing money & no pay for the rations which we did not receive, and say we can draw neither now but prehaps can do so sometime. So it goes. I have worn one pair of Army shoes entirely out and bought another pair. I have bought a watch, and considerable butter &c of the suttler to keep from starving to death, or at least from going hungry, and when I am paid off I shall want to keep enough to buy a pair of boots, & enough to last me for various other purposes, for two months as we shall not be paid again until the 1st of Jan. I shall not draw the 7 dollars per month here and shall send a paper to father giving him power to do so, if possible. Our Co. is oweing the suttler, besides what money they have paid him $150. I know this for I have seen his acct. I am owing him nothing.

I would like to write much more but have not time to day. Our Co. are well at present. We have one (Taylor of Weathersfield) in the Hos. at Washington, and one in the Hos. near here. Have about 10 or 12 to take to the surgeon here each morning. He examines them and those that are very sick he has marked Quarters. (ie) they must stay in their Qrs. through the day & are not required to do duty of any kind. Those that are less sick he marks Light Duty, which excuses them from all drills during the day except dress parade. Those who are not sick enough to do any good he marks Duty. And they are obliged to do duty as usual. We have got the best Surgeon it is possible for a Regt to have. He looks some like Old Dexter. He is a real kind hearted man. The Assistant Surgeon (Childs) on the contrary I consider rather a heartless man. I will just state a little incident which occurred the other morning while I was there with the sick, to illustrate the fact. One fellow steped up to be examined, and Childs asked him what was the matter with him. He commenced as a great many would by saying “Well by gosh” when Childs interupted him by saying “By gosh, that’s what ails you is it” At that the fellow smiled a little “What you laughing at” said C. “because

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you feel so weak”. Things like that occur often & I do not like to see it in in the place. Last saturday & sunday I was marked Qrs. Monday I was mark Light Duty, but have been on duty since I did not need to be marked Qrs. all that ailed me was a slight sore throat, but I felt as if I should like a day or two rest and the Surg. knows me and marked me as I wished him to. We have no right to be absent from any drill unless on some other duty, or are excused by the Surg. We are having now, morning drill from 6 o’clock til 7.15 – forenoon drill from 10 o’clock till 11.15. Afternoon Battalion drill from 3 oclock till 5. Dress Parade after that time, taking about half an hour.

I must close for to day as tis near time for Battalion drill. I surpose Lizzie and her mother have gone home. – My love to all. Tell Grandmother I recd the handkf I shall write as often as possible. Good bye.

Your Aff. BrotherJo.