John McCoy, letter, to Martha McCoy, 1864 July 23

fall asunder it then leaves its victim quite prostrate and in a high fever it is nothing unusual to see men mounting guard in perfect heath and in a few hours afterwards having to be relived when on post. for the shakes, when covered over with Blankets they seem to be quite cold when mercury stands in the Thermometer at 110 deg, in the shade. almost the one third of the three companies doing duty in Fort Totten is on the sick report. the only remedy given by the Doctor for the shakes is quinine mixed in liquor and I verily believe that there is some that shakes a little more than what is real in order to get some whiskey if it is mixed with quinine. your last two letters was all that could be desired lengthy and will written, the newspapers come in good time I felt at home for some time when reading them you should try and send them to me more regular. it is a pity to use them for waste paper when I place so much value on their contents—-Before this reaches you you will have received a letter from me of the 12th instant, detailing matters to you up to the time of writing, consequently you need not

expect much at this time from me and the common accurrences here would be of no material interest to you. For the last few days affais here seem to be of more exciting character. scouts from the front and Contrabands report a large force of the enemy concentrating in front of our outside picket lines some estimated them at from 15 to 20 thousand with 32 pieces of seige artillery but as to the verasity of their reports I cannot vauch, one thing certain for the last few nights the rebels appeared in small force at the picket lines and shot several of our men before discovered. yesterday a number of (colored) men when out a short ^distance^ from the city to pick his huckle Berries in a swamp they were surrounded and captured by the rebel scouts. late last night two companies of the 16th. Vermont was sent out as supports to the 12th N.Y. Cavalry we expected last night to hear the long roll beat but were agreeably dispointed. all remains quiet up to the time of writing (10 Oclock A.M.) as far as I can learn but dispatches may have come

without my knowledge in the night we have the best chance to know what is going on as the communication with the pickets is and the line of Forts is carried on with signal lights — It costs me considerable now days for washing as I pay for getting all done I change shirts twice a week and socks the same and pants once a week I also wash myself regular all is necessary here on account of sweating so much. in fact I take all the care of myself that I can —for a young regardless person there is great amusement in camp. in almost every stockade there is some instrument of music played some evenings the asemble together which makes quite a nice band much nicer to me than the Brass Band. but often all the inmates of the tents around me has sunk into the arms of Morpheus I lay awake for hours thinking over a thousand exciting thoughts in succession and pondering over on what the unknown future has in store for me. wondering if ever I will be permited to revisit once more my home and my little family-but contentment should be my guiding rule at present as space will permit no more