Camp Kempers Ford, Va
August the 23 /63
My Dear Wife
I again seit my self to write a fiew lines to you to let you know that I am well and that I received yours of 18th. I got it last knight. I am glad Matie is getting better but sorry the baby is sick. I hope he will get better soone. We haint marched yet but we are liabel to go at eney hour. When we go we will go back nearer Washington. The army had got to be filed up before they dare make a forward movement. Our ranks are thined and our flag shaterd but the conscripts are coming. There has quite a good meney come in our division. There is none is our regt yet but the conscripts wont be worth much until next spring and by that time half of them will be dead or discharged. The sun is just raising. I thought I would write while it is coole. We had a fiew coole days but it is as hot again as ever. The knights are quite cold and foggy. I have ben on picet three days this weak. We have got to have out a petrole picet every knight to watch for spies. There has one crosed the river two or three times. There was one captured in the brigade the other day. He got through the picets by repezenting himself as one of Gearies staf. The sidens here are the worst ____ I ever see. They talk it right out. That is the women they hate us the worst way. You sent me two envelps. I bought a pacage and sent and got a dollars worth of stamps so I am all righed for writing. I hope you have got your money. I guess you have and will go to Binghamton tomorrow and have your likeness taken for me. I have had bad luck with the old one. It come apart and the glass broke. I am sorry but when we was on the march I couldent take verry good care of it. You wanted to know how my appetite is this hot weather. It has ben good. I could eat all I could get till within a fiew days. It haint ben quite as good. I have just eat my breakfast and I had a good one. We got some soft bread yesterday and I took some coffe and swaped it for a canteen of milk. It was the best meal I have had since I was home. The bread was good. We have drawed 4 loves apeice since we have ben here. You wanted to know if you could send me a box. You had better not. It is to warm yet. Wait till this fall and then I dont care if you send me a small one but I can get along just as well without it. If I had just one meal of your cooking I would be sadesfied. I think it would do me a good deal of good. I hope it wont be long when I can come and live with you all the time. I should thought Rast would reather stayed at home. Couldent he get eney work about home. I supposed help was verry scarce. He wanted to get home so bad. I thought when he got there he would stay. What does the copperheads think now. I guess they think we have got a strong goverment. Every one of them has got to come if they are drafted or pay $300. That I dont think is a good law but it may be after all. I shal have to stop for this time. I send my love to you. Give my love to our folks and ciss the children often for me.
Charles Engle to Charlotte