Camp Parole VA

August the 20th 1863

“I write you today because I hardley [sic] know what else to do with myself…I am well that is to all apearances [sic] but my Bowels have not been in a good state for a week past I have eaten a mess of new Potato & a couple ears of green Corn this may have upset me some they are givieng [sic] out whiskey & Quinine here twice a day But my Stomach wont Bear it I drinked it Once & I was sick afterwards so I Don’t drink any now I don’t know But it is good as a medicine But the men shamefully abuse the privelage [sic] they have got Some draw their rations and give them away to others & they got Beastly Drunk on it One young Boy here Drank so much that he lied in fits all day afterwards if they is many Dying her from [crossed out “Small”] yellow fever they keep it still from us for I have not seen a case of it yet But one thing is sure they would not give the men whiskey for nothing there is some Contgious [sic] Disease amongst us and a Bad one to But it is kept still”. Weather is getting colder, need two blankets at night to keep warm.

They don’t hear much about an exchange and some say it won’t happen. “The New york herald says there is No Probability of an Exchange on the grounds that the Rebels Refuse to Exchange on the old Cartel if they don’t exchange us I hope to get home in a few days as there is some talk of giveing [sic] us all a furlough”. He hopes that he might get a furlough because he still has the Colonels’ recommend.

“The news of the riots & the resistence to the Draft has tended to Dishearten the Soldiers very much at the Present time if we had a hearty & Cheering Responce [sic] from the loyal States I [sic] is the general Belief this Rebelion would not last long But this Sudden Outbreak of men at home will have a tendency to Prolong the war a great while longer.” Lengthy closing.