Camp at Suffolk Va, April 10.
Dear All,
I believe it's a whole week since I have written you a line & my last letter was quite short. I fully intended writing a good long letter last Sunday & I hardly know why I did not & every day since I have thought I should surely write but something has interferred. I have been quite busy on one duty & another. I am much obliged for your frequent letters the last was a -good long- one chiefly by Ellen, I wish she would write more such. I do so love to get your letters but always think why have -I- not written. I mean to write about as often as I receive. Recd this afternoon the Bulletin with news of the Glorious election in old Connecticut. We got the news Wednesday. We had been reviewed by Genl Keyes (the Genl who had command, under Genl Tyler, of our Connt Regts at Bull Run) that afternoon & Genl Harland told me, just as we were coming off the field that our good Gov. had been reelected. I spread the news pretty quickly. Almost every Co. had elections here & I was much surprised at the number of Seymour votes cast. I did not suppose there would be a dozen cast in the Regt. In my Co. I wrote the votes & gave each man two ballots, one for Buckingham & one for Seymour & the boys put the one they preferred into the hat. I did this because I wished to get an honest expression & I know that voting in this way they would all know that I could not tell how any one voted. Thirty votes were polled. Twenty-five for Buckingham & five for Seymour. As the Co. comes from a strong Democratic district I was greatly pleased at the result & I really believe every man voted independently. Two or three Co's were unanamous for Buckingham & one had a majority for Seymour but 'twas not a fair vote. More votes were polled than there were voters. We had the most from over Capt. Ripley's Co. we have laughed at him a good deal lately about his writing for the papers. An extract from one of his letters was published in several Connct papers a week or two since. I think the Bulletin copied it. He had written to Jones formerly a Lieut of his Co he says he always writes to him just as he would speak, & Jones had the extract published. Capt. Ripley felt very sorely about it & it was not expressed in any choice terms. I had my vote before any of the other Co's & Capt. Ripley thought his Co. could beat that, he thought it was queer that I had five Seymour votes. Well his Co. voted & greatly to his disgust he had but -four- majority for Buckingham in a considerably larger vote than my Co. cast. He was perfectly raving over it. I am real sleepy & am going to bed. shall have time to finish this before the mail leaves in the morning. Good night. I have been greatly interested in the Report of the conduct of the war committee. I should think Genl McClellan would feel like moving his place of abode to one of Capt. Ripley's Cannibal Islands How gloriously our Burnside looms up. I do think he has shown forth every quality of a great general & as a man ain't he all that I once called him a second Washington. what a magnificent plan his second was, the one enhancing the Cavalry raid. Could any two men be more totally dissimilar then Burnside & McClellan, either as generals or as men. I am not anxious to partake in any more fights but if I am like to I should want above every thing else to have Burnside at the head. when the listing of this war is written I do believe Burnside will appear as he deserves at the head of the list. How much was the store injured by the burglars & what will it cost us to repair it? we have known for several days that Genl Foster was in trouble & yesterday Terry's Brigade were advanced to his relief but after breaking camp & -getting aboard the cars- were ordered back so we hope Foster has extricated himself. It was quite a new idea to us to think of other troops moving & we lying still - rather agreeable than otherwise though. I do pray our forces at Charleston may be successful. I think it favorable then otherwise that we get no news through rebel sources. Capt. Moore's leave of absence expired yesterday & he has not reported. I fear it will make him trouble. We have one Captain already under arrest for the same cause. Most of the Regt have gone on Picket this morning. I am again lucky & stay at home. Not a day & hardly an hour passes but that I get mad with myself for sending George off as I did. I wish he was with me now. No news at all. Best love You affct son & bro Chas