1862-02-16Pope's Plantation
Feb 16th 1862

Pope's Plantation

Dear Parents

It is Sabbath and I am once more writing to you. Our last mail brought me but one letter but that was from you and most welcome too. It was a week ago last Friday since the mail. We should have had a mail last week but it did not arrive. I answered your last letter a week ago today, but I thought perhaps you would not be offended if I did not wait until I rec'd an answer from you. We are having a little touch of cool weather here just now. It commenced raining yesterday afternoon and has proved to be a very cold storm and makes everything look dull and dreary, especially when we have to stand our guard at night, but we do not have very hard times on guard as we only have 3 hours out of every 24, 1 in the day and 2 at night. I am on picket duty yet and shall probably remain so here as long as the Co. stays on the island, that is if the Cap't does not see fit to call me down to the quarters which I hope he will not, for we have too nice a place to wish to be removed from it. We have to pass through the same routine of duties each day, nothing new going on. Occasionally we hear the booming of distant cannon in the direction of Savanna. Day before yesterday one of our batteries stove a rebel gunboat to pieces, but they have not attacked Savanna yet but probably will before long. They seem to be so slow about it that it seems as though they never would accomplish anything, but I suppose it takes some time to get things in readiness. I hardly know what to write. There is no war news at present, so I guess I will wait until after the mail comes before I finish this. The mail will not go out until after one comes in and then perhaps I shall have something new to write. I am well and enjoying myself very well. I am getting as fat as a hog. This morning the picket at the ferry brought in 25 negroes that came over last night from the rebel side. They were a miserable looking lot of beings very poorly clad and a poor despised race of beings, despised because the ruthless hand of slavery has so long thrown over them. I am in hopes their bonds will soon be broken and then freed from their despicable condition in life. I cannot think of anything more of interest to write. We have not drawn our pay yet and do not know when we will get it, but I will bid you good by for the present.