1862 July 27 New Bern, N.C.

                       In Camp Sunday
          Newbern July 27th 1862
Dear Parents
                     As I feel very much
like writing this morning and as
this is a day when we have very
little to do I have concluded
to give you an idea of how we
are getting along.  We expect a mail
today or tomorrow but I will will write
now & then too.  In the first
place I must tell you in
what good opinion I am held
by the Col. he has sent my
name to Gov. Andrews recommen-
ding me for a Captaincy.  He
sent a list of about  10 or 12
Non. Coms. to the Gov. recommen-
ding them for various offices
my name comes 4 or 5 on the
list & he told the Capt. that
if I had been older my name


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would have come nearer the head.
There is scarcely any doubt tbut
that I get a 1st Lieutantcy and
possibly a Captaincy, so that I
am studying at a great rate
(and the Capt. examines me
every day) if you can imagine
such a thing.  I am getting along
quite fast.  The Capt says that
I am now better posted than
1/2 the Capts. The list of names
have gone home so that in a \month or six weeks I may be
at home.  Local news here is
pretty stiring[sic], for the last
few nights some unknown per
son or persons have fired on
the sentries who walk the
streets in the city, nobody has
been hit until night before
last the guard was shot in
the hip.  Yesterday Gen.
Foster issued an order at which

[page 3]
Mass. 23rd marched to the
particular street (where the
firing has been done) headed
by the Gen.; searched the houses
found about 10 men loafing
in & about a certain house, found
guns & shot in the house &c
immediately the fences, fruit &
shade trees, vegetables & everything
living were cut down or torn
up and last but not lest
every house & building in the
street was torn down & the
Gen says that he will hang
the next man caught in such
an act & it is thought that
he will hang one or more
of those whom he has caught
as they committed the acts
previous.  I heard Gen. Stevenson
say that Gen. F said he
would shoot the man
whereat Mrs.. Gen. F said

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"you shan't shoot one while I
am here--You shoot our own
soldiers for misconduct & you
should therefore hang rebels."
Gen Stevenson said that that
was an actual fact.
Jim has gone off on picket
with Co. K; we had the heaviest
thunderstorm last night that
I ever saw, you have no idea of
it. An expedition left here 2 or 3
days ago for what place nobody
seems to know, they have had a
skirmish I believe as some of our
wounded were brought into town
last night (2 wounded & 2 killed) we
have had no particulars.
But I must close.
Give my love to all & a kiss to
the children & believe me your
affect son

         Theo. C. Otis
                      hoping to see you
                      soon

[letter found, for whatever reason among the papers of the Cabell Family of Albemarle County, Va.]

Sergeant Theodore C. Otis, Company G, 24th Massachusetts Infantry

MSS 38-348