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Fort Stevens D.C. Dec 18th 1863 I was very much surprised at receiving a letter from you, I thought
you had come to the conclusion that it did not pay to write to Soldiers
but I assure you I was very glad to be so disappointed. It is a cold windy
night but I have a good fire and a little better house that I had when
you were here. Our new house is 16*20 divided into two bedrooms and an
office, nicely plastered and whitewashed as comfortable as half the houses
in VT(??) a great deal nicer and warmer than any old shop in Shoreham.
We have a new Captain. His name is Edward P. Lee he is a big man as tall
as I am and weighs two hundred pounds. The major is all right as usual.
So are all those you know here. The reg't is being filled up very fast
now; two hundred recruits came yesterday. Thirty five came to Battery
B. They are a fine lot of men. The Russian officers visited Fort Totteri
(one of the Forts garrisoned by the 11th bt.). Of course I had to go and
see them. They are generally short and quite ___ built and some of them
very good looking. I have told you all the news that I can think of and
now hardly know what to write. You say "your letter was cold and
indifferent." Lorette how would you have me address you? Allowing
me to be the judge I should think your letters the coldest. Yes indeed,
I do remember everything you told me and that I promised to stand up with
you but I did not suppose you remembered anything. It is of no use to
tell you again what I have told you so many times. I do not blame you
for not caring for me but don't call me cold and indifferent when I am
doing my best to make it seem all right. You know that one word from you
when I was there was all that ware required to bring me to any terms you
saw fit to make. I was in hopes I should forget to pay homage where it
was regarded as something of no account but I cannot forget; more's the
pity.
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