1862 January 1 C.S. Steamer "Ellis" Off Roanoke Island

My Dear Mother

I received your
thrice welcome a few days ago, and
would have answered it in this
but I have been so busy since I
left Norfolk in un[pac?]king and as
this was the first opportunity I
had to send a letter to Norfolk
that I had necessarily defer
answering it until today, the first
day of the New Year. I had a very
pleasant time indeed while I was
at Norfolk, and I had to leave
just at the very time that I most
wished to remain I was invited to
a dozen parties during Christmas
and had to leave for the Sound
just the day before Christmas. Was
not that too bad? Indeed I was

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duty first and pleasure afterwards
is my motto. After arriving here
we had a very disagreeable time
indeed. Several boats have been
destroyed in the last severe gale
they gave my boat the pleasant
occupation of rasing them and
saving their engines, which we
have I am happy to say, succeed
-ed admirably in doing, although
we labored under a very serious
disadvantage, namely in having
a crazy Captain, for I verily
believe that Captain Cook is as
crazy as the worst maniac in
the Lunatic Asylum, and I
have a very strong notion of
leaving him and appl[y]ing for
another station, although I should
be sorry to do so as I have such
excellent crew and officers
and Old Cook is such a perfect

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gentleman when he is in a right
state of mind. You seemed to think
that I was a Lieutenant but as
yet you are mistaken, although
I hope by February to be one. As
you know the rank of Lieutenant
in the Naval Service far exceeds
that in the Army, since af[t]er a
Lieut. in the former you cannot
adva]n]ce but two grades higher
I wished you to direct it to me
as a safer method of obtaining
whatever might be sent. I am
happy to say that I am perfect-
ly well and in good spirits and
sincerely hope you all may
be enjoying the same blessings-
about the butter, never mind it.
When did you here from Mr. Page?
Give my best love to him when
you write again. I am very

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sorry indeed that Aunt B[?]
matrimonial expectations should
not be realized, but disappointment
is common to the human race.
Give my best love to all my
enquiring relations and to Cousin
Tom and his wife. Kiss little
Will, Monie and Mary Mann for
me, also tell the negroes howday-
and now my dear mother hoping
to hear from you as soon as possible
I remain
Your Affectionate Soon
R. A. Ca,,

Robert Alexander Camm to Olivia Alexander Camm Page
MSS 8937