1862 December 25 East New York

            East New York
                      Dec 25th 1862
A merry christmas to you all!
I suppose I must direct this
letter to George or I shall not
hear from the urchin again.
You must remember my sonny that
when I write a letter home it means
you as much as Father & Mother.
To day has been pleasant & mild.
this evening it looks as though it might
rain before long.  I suppose you
have snow enough away down East and
have fine times sliding and skating
I should like to know what you are
doing this christmas evening?1 I am
sitting in the tent, and by the flickering
light of a poor tallow candle am talking
with loved ones far away.
Our tent is about fourteen feet long and
about twelve wide.  Asst. Surgeon Morton
and myself sleep together in a bunk
on a tick in which there was once some
straw, but the virtue is nearly rolled out
of what little remains, I would not swap

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it for a feather bed at any rate with a
plenty of blankets, and by laying spoon fashion
we manage to keep warm.
The waiter sleeps here also.
We have had no orders to move yet.
The 22st & 24th & 28th are all here together
in the same Barracks, the barracks are not
so well arranged here as they were at Augusta,
all huddled up together after this manner         
[diagram in   in the form of a parallelogram
left margin]   no good chance for ventilation
                    except through the top of the
barracks.  I see the boys quite often.
Now that Capt. Vaughan is in the city Berny dont
have much to do only to see that the capts tent
dont walk off.  he was in here to day looks
well.  Cyrus is well.
    I understand that those officers who are
under arrest go with the expedition and are
to be tried on the field.
The Col. I guess will come out top of the
heap.
  You will soon cease to be Rigisteer of
Deeds for Franklin co. do you feel sorry?
You ask me what I think of your
going to Washington, selfishness would seem
to say go, for I might hope for some assistance
in pursuing my studies if I should live

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safe and sound: but to think of it
honestly and fairly I can but think it for
the best for you not to go.
I wouldn't want any honest man to go
to Washington.  I am fully convinced that
it is a sink of iniquity.
   the men who have the lead in
public affairs, as a general thing, are
wicked, unprincipled, demagogues.
and when you look at the army
the leaders I mean, you can hardly
find an honest man.  all they think
about is plunder, the rebellion is hardly
thought of, you hear officers talking
and it is about the chances of promotion
or to see if they can not draw forage
for two horses when they have got but one
  To steal from Gov. is, they think so
much gained.
   In what little I have seen I am
not astonished that our armies
don't succeed.
   As a nation we are being chastised
and how lightly in comparison with
our transgressions.
    What do you think of our
present difficulties at HeadQuarters
    I dont imagine Burnside will

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ever do much more.
  I hear that Belcher was killed in the
last fight is it so?
     Your letter of Dec. 21 came
to hand Tuesday evening.
   It is sad to hear of Nancy's death.
I pity her little girl.
  Mrs. Sampson must feel lonely.
Asst. Surgeon Libby of our Regt. is very
sick, doubtful if he recovers.
   The Lieut. col. is sick also.
this is I think an unhealthy place,
low land.
     I am well now, and hope I
may continue so.
    Pray for me that I may live
and do my duty, and if I
die, that I may die like a man
and christian.
             Your affectionate son,
                        C.P. Morrill

Charles Plummer Morrill,  24th Maine

MSS 11031