1862 June 7 Fort Albany

                           Fort Albany Sat Morn June 7/62

Dear Wife,

                             I will try and write a few words
to you this morning although I have not got much
of anything of interest to say.  It is a very beautiful
morning, and promises to be a very hot day.  We have
had a very wet week, it has rained some every day
I believe, We have been cleaning the tent this
morning, and packing our knapsacks, and we
now look as nice as a new pin, We have to do
it every Saturday morning, some of the men
growl about it, but those are the ones who need
the cleaning most,  We had a compliment from
Head quarters, Brig Gen Whipple sent a not to
us saying that, we had the cleanest looking camp,
the best looking muskets, the best looking men,
cleanest clothes, best looking magazines, and things
in the best order generally, of any Company in
the Regmt, that is a feather in our cap, I can tell
you, and we felt quite proud of it.  Now we have got
to talking on a subject that comes near home, and
that is about our children, one says I've got a
boy that is the biggest rogue that you ever say[sic], another
says the same thing, and so on, I say the same but
[corner torn off] my talk, One of my mess has,                                                                

[page 2]
born to him, since he came here, the son is now
about three weeks old, the Fathers name is Calvin
De Putraine, and belongs to  Lawrance, Mass. By the
way: Did you ever receive the letter that I sent you, after
I received the box of goodies from you, I sent you a letter
of thanks for it, and a description of the manner
in which it was received.
                                                  3 o'clk P.M.
Oh dear! how hot it is, I want to write something
to you to day because it will be my turn to go on
guard tomorrow. (Sunday) and then I sha'nt
have any chance to write while on duty, for you
must know that guard duty lasts from nine
o'clk in the morning untill nine the
next morning.  I always send you a letter on,
(or post one) Monday morning, and quite often
one or two during the week, Do you think
you receive all that I send you?  I meant to
have gone strawberrying to-day, but it has been
so______hot that I have been too lazy, to make any
more exertion than is absolutely needed,  I am
getting fat, and, I guess, kind of lazy, I sent you
yesterday (6th) the Philadelphia Press, encloseing a book
for Ernie, and a Magnolia for you,  I wish you
could see the magnolia trees here and have
[corner torn off]  the blossoms fresh they are very [corner torn off]

[page 3]
                              Sat eve 7 o'clk P.M.
         I expected to receive a letter from
you when the mail came in this
afternoon, but have been dissappointed,
I wont complain however, for, I have
had two from you this week, and I
think that is doing pretty well for you
but for all that I like to receive a letter
from you on Saturday night, so that I
can have something interesting to read
on Sunday, We are now haveing a nice
shower, which has cooled the air, and
makes us all feel much better. Frank
          of Lynn
Hathaway ^ is here, in our tent, spending
the evening, he belongs to Co. C. Capt
Draper, On parade tonight there was  one
Deserter read up, named David Jones, he
belongs to Col K, who are at this fort
with us, he has been gone about one
week, I dont think they will try very
hard to catch him, as he did'nt amount
to much, he belongs to Lawrence, Mass.
It is now almost nine o'clk, and about bed
time, and I must close,  If I can get a
chance to write a few lines more tomorrow
[corner torn] not, I shall send what there is, good night
[corner torn] and little ones, yours in love, Robert

unidentified soldier from Lynn, Mass., in the 14th Massachusetts Heavy Artillery


MSS 1242