I have rec. letters
from you & Samuel. I have delayed writing
for some time as nothing has happened
worth writing about. We have the same
thing day after day with nothing to
vary the monotony. It has been rain-
ing all day but is clearing off now.
We have had a good deal of rainy
weather & the mud has been very
deep all the time. Of course no foreword
movement could be made. The 9^th
Army Corps - in which all the
N.H.Regts except the 2^nd & 5^th have gone
away, I hear to Fortress Monroe.
The organization by Grand Dir. has
been abolished by Gen. Hooker. We still
remain in the 2^nd Corps commanded

by Gen. Couch. Gen.Sumner has been
relieved, what for, I do not know.
I think he is as good as any of them.
Lt. Col Hapgood has got out here. he brought
our new colors with him. They are splen-
did ones. The national flag has the
name of all the battles we have been
in - 9 in number – in gilt letters
& the State flag has the names of
all the officers killed -10 in number.
We expect Col. Cross here in a few days.
He ought to have a star on his shoulder
& would have if he would get the poli-
ticians to use their influence. He de-
serves it more than Gil. Marston.
Maj. Cross is at home on a furlough
Capt. Butler is coming as soon as soon as he
can settle up his affairs with the
Signal corps. I suppose you have seen
that furloughs are to be granted to the
men. 10 days. 2 out of every 100 men
can go at a time and after they return
then another lot: we are allowed

3 men from this regt: they are
selected by lot. 3 men the first lot.
Started last friday. they have to
be back here next Sunday. As not
more than 6 can go in a month it
will take nearly 2 years for this
regt. to all have their turns. My
name may be drawn the next
time & it may not be drawn
till 2 years from now. It will take
at least 5 days to go and come, which
would leave only 5 days at home.
We regard it as a humbug only get
up to tickle the boys. Regt that have
been out here but 6 weeks have the
same benefit of it as those that have
been there since the beginning.
My box, I have not got yet.
I have no doubt it is at Aquia Creek
waiting the pleasure of the Provost-
Marshall. I shall probably get the
boots & shirts, but the eatables were
spoiled long ago. One of my [---?] mates

got a box a week ago. It left home the 1^st Jan. every thing was spoiled not a crumb was fit to eat. It laid at Aquia Creek nearly 3 weeks. there was no earthly reason for keeping it there. If the Provost-Marshall had attended to his duties it would have got here in 10 days & and everything here in good order. I don’t blame the boys for growling sometimes. I feel mad enough myself to growl.