Camp Parole VA

Thursday Sept the 3rd /63

[letterhead of woman in red with flag, Chas Magnus 12 Frankfort St N.Y.]

Got her letter and the paper but was ahead of her in getting the news: “I am Glad george was not drafted for I should hate for to see him come if he did Not want to”. Not exchanged and no signs of it. Everyone is saying they are coming home but he’s afraid it’s just camp talk. “To day I have been mustering the men for something I don’t know for what But I guess it is for pay I am glad Sarah has come back for I think she is good Company for you I hope she will turn out better than my acquaintance has I have no need to hope for I know she will. That Mr Place I wrote home about has turned out to be one of the worst sort of men he went to Washington and mixed himself in with mean women of that place and then came back & made his brags about it and Mr philip Smith has got so he Sports a woman at this Camp and she happens to be a nigger at that he got in the Sutlers Shop here for Clerk and that is the way he spends his money he earns here god help & keep me from such things I don’t see how they Can do it & have a clear Concience [sic]. “ Describes how most all the boys go off to Washington and come back to brag about what bully times they have with women and most of them are married, but she will never hear that from him.

Hopes to come home soon to see her and Ida and Willie. “I hope they will both live to be good Children & be a blessing to us in old age if god Permits us to see it. That Bill [Sweatfager?} has turned out as I expected I suppose he is a subject for Virginia and Bill dagwell has got enough to Pay his 3 hundred dollars without feeling it but how many will have to come that have not got it to Pay Charles Milburey is drafted I see by the papers But what is Brother Henry going to do I suppose he has not got his 3 hundred to pay & I don’t think his height will clear him for I have seen smaller men than him down here.” Lengthy closing. Signed:

Sergt P.L.Dumont

Comding Squad No 11 3^rd division

Paroled Prisoners

a kiss to all