John McCoy, letter, to Archibald McCoy, 1864 March 18

going to Virginia but he must gow where needed N.A. will go west first and then to Canada the are both well the sent me their Photograph likeness in the letter. I will enclose it in this for you to keep till I come home — Archy I must tell you we have a splended Brass band here in fort Totten. 34 men in all the play for us more than suits me I am sick of music I hear so much there is 30 stockade tents in a row and a number of them contains Fiddlers some fluts fifes Claronets Melodians Bones Bangos &c— there is a concert almost every evening in some of the tents if not there in some of the Negrow houses. it might answer you for a little while but I hope you will never set your foot in such a place as this the wickedness of the people here is beyond dis-cription it is a wonder that the whole union Troops is not exterminated from the earth I wrote a letter to Mamy last saturday the 12th inst I am expecting a letter to one I wrote 28th Feb. the answer is due—

the letter of the 29th Feb. came safe— you and Albert must send me a long letter telling me everything that happened there since I left home, tell me about the cow the Hay how you got the wood choped what kind of weather this winter how you suffered the cold all the stir about the Corners &c. and how pip can talk Clean all the dirt of the dam you can this spring and get the ploughing done early one day of a team will do - try and raise all you can - tell mother to knit me two pair of socks well run in the heels she knows the kind I want the quicker she gets them the Better you can [illegible] send them by mail to me neatly rolled up in paper and directed. the postage is 8 cents for every 4 ounces ^or^ of Fraction there of for linen Catton or woolen goods for soldiers the Government socks is very Bad the last only 2 or 3 weeks the are also to large for me the three pair I Brot from home two pair of them ^I^ left in Danvers

^the^ worst of them I Brot with me - Mc.Curry Said he would send them home my razor Strap and Brush I also left the were to be taken care of and sent home you will mention what word there is from Blanchette and Mc.Curry if you get the razor you can give it to my father if he needs it till I come home if that time ever comes- one of the men in my tent James Obrien gives me his razor to shave with with Wm French mentioned in my last letter gave me a razor I have not tried yet, I shave twice a week. my health is good and I hope this will find you all in good health I dreamed a few nights ago that my Boots were all Broke into holes in the upper leather but I hope it is no bad omen as I never believed in dreams much-the Rebels are still hovering around this place reconnitering our works in the shape of spies a terable Battle is expected daily we are Blockading the river here to prevent the rebel ram from Co-operating with the land forces give my love to your mother Brothers and sisters while I remain