These letters were written by Newcomb Dyer (1837-1897), a farmer from Plainfield, Massachusetts, who enlisted as a private in Co. F of the 9-month 46th Massachusetts Infantry in September 1862. After training in Springfield, they were transported to New Bern, North Carolina on 15 November, where they mostly remained through March. His 21 November letter describes the regiment’s guns, adding that “all of our other accouterments were taken from the Rebels. Our belts are fastened together with a croocked brass rattlesnake. Lots of the tents & a great many Austrian guns used here are captured property.”
Dyer’s 12-page 22 December letter describes his participation in the Goldsborough Expedition, which included three battles. He praised the 3rd New York Cavalry: “The N.Y. boys all had short rifles, breech-loading, & would ride over fences 4 feet high & jump ditches 6 feet across & not stop. They did everything to keep the road clear & take the spies that were hovering around. . . . The Rebels fell trees in the road & did all they could to delay us, but the cavalry got by the trees & chased 300 Reb cavalry & 50 infantry, taking & killing 18.” At the Battle of Kinston, “we came on to the enemy. They were posted in a swamp. The water & mud was more than two feet deep. . . . The battle lasted four hours. The place where the Tenth Conn charged on a battery of Reb cannon was perfectly trimmed & the bark torn from the trees. It did not look as though a man could live after such a volley of musketry & grape shot. . . . The cavalry made a rush for the bridge & the Rebels were all ready to fire it. They had cotton & turpentine & started the fire. The cavalry fired & rushed on them. They spilt the turpentine on themselves & one was burnt to death. I saw him as we passed.” At the battle of White Hall, “the 46 was called on to volunteer to go & shoot at the Rebels. They were posted behind trees, logs & rifle pits.” Dyer was one of 4 volunteers: “We had to go down in fair sight of them. We got within from 25 to 50 rods. . . . they shot at us a great many times, Stevens & my backs were covered three times with splinters flung from boards & rails.” As they withdrew at night, “the balls struck just over my head & went into the house.” After the Battle of Goldsborough Bridge, “we had burnt the bridge & we started back at dark & marched 8 miles toward New Bern. We had fighting every day.”
Dyer’s 14 March 1863 letter describes the Battle of Fort Anderson or Deep Gully, in which the Confederates threatened New Bern: the river “was lined with Rebs & their batteries for more than two miles & they made an attempt to fling a pontoon bridge across the river, & had it more than halfway across but the gunboats tore it to pieces.” Dyer left the army in June at the end of his term, and settled in Missouri after the war.
A sixth-plate tintype in a worn case shows a Union soldier in a gray winter coat–possibly Newcomb Dyer in winter quarters in North Carolina.
Note: These letters are from the personal collection of Greg Herr and were offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.
Letter 1
[There is no envelope with this penciled letter but it is assumed it was written to Bela and Ruth (Ranney) Dyer of Plainfield, MA]
On board the Mississippi
November 13th 1862
We are now about 40 miles from North Carolina coast going south. We started from Boston Monday at 6 o’clock in the evening. We went on board Wednesday night. Was taken off Sunday night & stayed in Faneuil Hall from 9 in the evening until 4 the next afternoon. The Boston folks were very kind to us. Mr. Hallett & Bassett brought us apples & crackers. Mrs. James Joy and Mr. Porter came there to see us.
We have come rather slow so far. The gunboat cannot sail as fast as this ship. The name of the boat is Huron. It has five guns—one 11-inch Columbiad and one Parrot pivot gun. The ocean today is as smooth as glass. We are near Hatteras. I saw two whales yesterday. There has three been seen today. I was sea sick yesterday. Feel better today. I was sick in the harbor at Boston. The whole of our regiment was taken from the ships & landed at Boston. The Saxon has taken seven companies and the other three have gone with the Mississippi & Merrimack. The Springfield company & half of ours are on the Mississippi. All of the Plainfield boys are with me. All have been sick except Frank Cook and Allen Smith. Mr. Rood is quite sea sick. Our water is very poor.
The snow and hail fell six inches in Boston. I saw banks 4 feet deep where it had been shoveled up from the walk. You must write how much it snowed & how much you plowed & whether the snow stays on or not. The wind has been in the south ever since we started. It is as war as it is in September in Plainfield. All of the soldiers are very kind to one another. The regiment that we go with is the 45th. They are good fellows. We expect to get to Beaufort tomorrow. You may send me some stamps. We could not get any good ones at Springfield. I have ordered 8 dollars of my pay to be sent home. You can get it when it comes. Five a month will be all that I shall be apt to want. I shall send a letter to W____ and Mary Ann when I get to Newbern. I will write some more when I get there.
Newbern. November 15th. We landed this morning at Beaufort. Arrived here at 11. We are all well. Saw Willie Halleck. He is well. Have not seen any of the other Plainfield boys. Direct to Newbern, N. C., 46th Regt. Mass. Vols., Care of Capt. [Russell H.] Conwell.
— Newcomb Dyer
Letter 2
Newbern [North Carolina]
November 21, 1862
Dear Parents,
Being on guard, I have a few moments to write. All from Plainfield are well. I have not had a cold yet. It rained and thundered as hard as ever I saw it last night. It flooded a great many tents so that they had to stand up. It is as warm as September in Plainfield. I sleep with coat and boots off. Shall undress when we get into barracks, We lay on the ground now. Can’t get any straw here. We are on the south bank of the Neuse [river] 15 rods [~80 yards] from the water. The bank slopes down to the water’s edge is 20 feet high. The river is 1 3/5 miles wide here. The Trent [river] is south of us and runs into this half mile below here. Gunboats are on both rivers. The pickets were fired into two days before we got here & the troops were ordered out & before morning the rivers had 16 gunboats on them. There is two large forts between the rivers. The boats & forts can keep off 50,000 men.
We have 17 regiments here now, not all full. Five more are coming as quick as can be transported. We are to be brigaded under Lee & Foster. Shall go into barracks soon two miles south from here. We are having enough to eat now. It came rather irregular after we left Camp Banks. We have got our guns. They weigh 11 lbs, two feet, 10 inches long and thick barrel brass trimmings. They are as good as any gun I have seen. They are a regular rifle. All of our other accoutrements were taken from the Rebels. Our belts are fastened together with a crooked brass rattlesnake. Lots of the tents & a great many Austrian guns used here are captured property. We go half mile for wood & find cedar pitch pine, black gum and several other kinds.
We commenced to drill yesterday. Alson, Willie, and Chauncey have been here to see us. They are well and look tough as ever. I cannot find where Wesley is. Their regiment is scattered on picket duty. We are to be brigaded with them (expect to).
Oysters and sweet potatoes are very plenty. Butter 40 cents and other things are rather high. I like it as well as I did in Springfield. It don’t seem as if I was more than 30 miles from home. The land is poor except on the river bank. Red clover was in the blow yesterday. Butterflies, grasshoppers, and crows are thick as in Massachusetts. The government is building barracks. They saw 25,000 feet of boards in two steam mills, The soldiers do the sawing. The barracks for a regiment are 600 feet long & 24 wide with 10 kitchens & fireplaces. They are all Massachusetts soldiers except the 10th Connecticut and 9th New Jersey. There is tons of iron of every description where we are encamped. There was several tar and turpentine works. They were burnt. The sand is filled with pitch so that it is as hard as a stone for acres where the buildings stood. You can find pieces as big as your head. They make a good fire. The bottom of the river tars your feet. It is not hardened under water.
I have just heard that Wesley was in the hospital & not very sick. One of the assistants told me of it. I shall go and see if it is so. We have not received any reliable war news yet but hear that there was fighting at the Potomac. We shall have the weekly Springfield [paper]. Our regiment takes it. Expect it in the next mail. I sent Hanson and Emily a letter this week. Have not had any mail from Massachusetts since we arrived. Our mail goes two or three times a week from here. Suppose you are all well and that you have had some snow. You must write all about the stock, sheep, steers, and everything. You had better fat one pig than buy meal. Be sure to water the sheep & not let them waste hay. Make a good rack, Feed them a few turnips. Tell Mr. Gloyd’s folks that Charley is fat and not homesick. He likes it first rate & so does Sam Jones. Tell Newell to write & Mahlon & all of the boys. I will write soon again & you must send all of the news. Yours respectfully, – Newcomb Dyer
November 22. The boys are sending for some things. Send me a good big cheese sage. Twenty of our men commenced to build barracks yesterday, [George W.] Cottrell boards with us. Tell Frank, Emily & Uncle Jared that they may send him butter, sugar, cheese, or anything that they can have his sincere thanks. We are all well. — N. Dyer
Letter 3
January 1, 1863
As the mail does not go yet, I send a few lines more. Has the box of old clothes come yet? I had an overcoat & a pair of new pants made by Tilly Hanes. Write whether they have come or not. We expect to be paid for four months this week. Suppose that part of it will come to Plainfield. If it comes, let me know it. It will come in my name. Pa can keep it.
We have not received our box yet but a boat got stuck in the river yesterday with Express boxes on and we expect that it has got that 650 pound box on somewhere. Our regiment had four tons if stuff come last week. We had papers come as late as the 24th. Heard of the defeat of Burnside & that Plainfield had to raise five more. Are they agoing to enlist & who is going?
We do not have to work today or drill. All of the soldiers have an holiday. It is clear and cool. It has not frozen for more than a week & not but a few nights this year. Our tent has sent over 40 letters this mail. I have sent one to Hanson and Mahlon & Augusta.
The Co. A boys have caught a young wildcat & have got him in a wooden cage. They caught him in a box trap. He weighs about 20 pounds. He will travel around his cage and growl. He looks savage enough. There are some deer & have see them lately but we can’t get them. Turkey buzzards are as thick as crows are up our way.
Have our folks carried Augusta’s lamb over yet> If not, they must. It will grow faster over there. Fordyce is better today & will drill soon. His cold is most gone. Write soon. — N. Dyer
Letter 4
Newbern, North Carolina
January 15th, 1863
Dear Parents,
This morning I received a letter from you & Mary Dyer. Was glad to hear that you were well & that all things were going on so well. It is very pleasant & warm here. The ground has not frozen for two weeks. We have had but little rain yet but expect that it will come It is as warm as I want it should be now. We sleep without blankets warm nights. We are content and think that we are more healthy & comfortable than we should be in Barracks. We have raised our tent 3 feet and it makes twice the room. We split boards five feet long from Cypress trees and some of them are near two feet wide. We have built an arch & can heat water and cook some small things for our tent. Whitney & I chopped wood two weeks. We liked it better than drill. We are not going on the Expedition that is to start soon. Think that 20,000 infantry will go & all of the artillery that they can get. We have 60 regiments in North Carolina & they are coming in every day. I do not know their destination. It may be Weldon.
I had heard that Newell was a going to be married but it was unexpected when it came. Did the Boys give him a good serenade? Is he doing [George] Cottrell’s chores or not? And what do you think—will he do his work this summer? All of your letters have come to me. Some of them were carried to Newport Barracks where the Springfield Boys are stationed & once the mail boat was stuck in the river. Campbell is all right. He won’t take a letter. Uncle Albert’s letter dated December 7th got to me January 11th. It was miscarried to the 45th Regiment.
My stockings are good except heels. I have darned. My shirts are good. Boots have not worn off the first sole. We have got our pay today up to the first of January. Alden is in the hospital sick with the typhoid fever. He commenced to be sick about the 10th. He is very dizzy & crazy some but think that he is not dangerous. Fordyce has had a bad cold but has got over it & is writing for a Surgeon in the city. Mr. Rood is so as to come in to our tent and walk about. He is better off here for a while than he would be at home. All of the rest are in good health. You need not tell Uncle Samuel’s folks about Abe. Edwards will write to them all about him that they wish them to know.
Charlie had a letter from Dwight today. He is well & is going to Galveston. My pay was a few cents over 50 dollars. I shall send home to you 40 dollars. We all shall send it to Freeman Hamlin & he will pay to all of those that we order. It will be some slight expense to you but you can pay the money to who you please. We shall have enough before all of the sugar is sold & we can pay that that church owes if anyone wants it back.
Letter 5
Newbern, North Carolina
January 28, 1863
Dear Father & Mother,
I received a letter from you yesterday with eight others from different places. We had over 40 come to our tent. All are in good health except Mr. Rood & he is no worse.
You before now have heard of [cousin] Alden [H. Dyer]’s death. We did not think him dangerous at the first but he gradually gre worse from the first. He was taken sick the 6th and thought that he would get over it in a day or two & stayed in the tent. We did all we could for him. The Cummington doctor [Thomas Gilfillan?] called & see him while in the tent. The 10th he was carried to our regimental hospital. He was within ten rods of us & we had the privilege of calling on him as often as we thought it was for his benefit. The 14th he was carried to the General Hospital in the City (the Masonic Lodge), 40 feet square and 20 high & well ventilated, and in the second story we called on him as often as we could and did all we could in our power for him. But it was of no avail. He had as good care as could be given to anyone. The best physician in the city called on him twice a day and he had good nurses and many things that he could not have had at home. It was with the greatest efforts that we could send home his body. There was a time that we thought we should have to bury him. You can think of our feeling & sympathy for Uncle Samuel’s family & Nellie. It will come hard for them. We do not realize it as we would in a different place & under circumstances that did not bring it continually with the dead and dying. It would be but a mockery to tell them of his kindness to all & the many friends that he has that daily miss his ever welcome company & cheerful way. He was the fattest and most healthy that ever I saw him. If he had lived, he would have been Orderly Sergeant. We are to choose today an Orderly & a 1st Lieutenant.
We moved our camp the 24th one mile south back and between the fork and on the edge of the city. All of the soldiers are inside of the fortifications & thousands are digging rifle pits & cutting trees to block the Rebs if they come to retake Newbern. We are skirmishing with them every day eight miles northwest from here. They are trying to make us keep a large force here or are coming in force. We hear that Longstreet & 40,000 are at Kinston & this side. But the funerals will be all on one side if they try to come here. We can keep back 50,000.
It is very warm & pleasant. We have had but a little rain. It is as warm as May at Massachusetts. The knot grass is six inches high & in blossom. The sweet potatoes in gardens & Irish [potatoes] are planted. It has not frozen nor have we had frost for more than two weeks. We have had orders (our company) to go to Newport Barracks on picket tomorrow. It is on the railroad 28 miles from Newbern & on the road to Beaufort. The position is not considered dangerous & we can have it as long as we choose. We shall not drill much but shall have to lay out every other 24 hours without fire, wet or dry.
Our box arrived the day that Alden died. All of the things come good except a few cookies. The cheese is as good one as ever I saw. I am making sauce of the apple. The stuff will last me more than a month. Butter is worth 45 cents, cheese 25. I can sell mine for two shillings but shall eat it. I could sell maple sugar for more than 25 cents. I had a letter from Mary Ann. She is well. Marantha has not sent a letter this month. Fordyce has been chosen 2nd Lieutenant today. All are well. It is raining gently. We go tomorrow. We can carry everything that we have, box and all. You had better hire someone in sugaring. Hanson will be good. Don’t let it. They will burn up everything. Write how many turkeys you wintered. If not any, buy in March. Send by Sears and get big ones. — N. Dyer
Letter 6
Newport Barracks 1
North Carolina
February 2nd 1863
Dear Father & Mother,
Having time, I write you a few lines to let you know my present occupation & give you some description of our quarters. We were ordered to move our camp from the Neuse to the back of the city January 24th & had just got things all straight when our company was ordered to go to this place & do picket duty. We have had to be on duty every other day but shall try to arrange it so as not to be on only every third day. There are three in a place; two are to keep awake nights and one in the day & alsys have two on the post. I am on with Eds. & Whitney. We are near a mile from our quarters in what is called the Woods Division. The posts are more comfortable than we thought we should get. We have a small cabin 7 feet square with a bunk for one to sleep & an arch for fire fixed so that the fire cannot be seen in the night. Our meals are brought to us. We carry [ ] & blankets from camp. We can sit on a good seat where it is warm & dry & do our duty. We like it far better than we did at Newbern.
Our ranch that we live in is built of logs 30 feet long, 20 wide with five windows and good floor & brick fireplace. All of our boys & [George W. Cottrell & Henry Dickson of Middlefield are with us. The 7th North Carolina Regt. built the quarters & occupied them before the capture of Newbern. We have a yoke of oxen that we took to draw wood. Water is near & good. We are three miles from the ocean in Carteret county as you can see on the Atlas. The captain and twenty others went to the shore & crossed 3 [?] and a half miles to an island 25 long and 3 wide trying to capture two spies that the Rebs keep to watch the movements of our shipping. They burnt the cabins that someone had occupied but did not see anyone. Justice Theodore & Allen Smith went. The rest of us were on guard.
The weather is very pleasant. The frogs are peeping & we are having a good time. There is lots of game here—bears, wildcats, otters, minks, & a great many kinds of birds. We cannot shoot them. It is against the rules to shoot within a mile of the pickets. We have several families that live close to us. They are in camp almost every day. We can get meal for 30 cents per peck, eggs for 25 cents a dozen. We are making hoecakes today. My address will be the same as ever but we shall not have the time to answer our letters before the return of mail that we did before. I am starting several & will finish when the mail comes in.
February 3rd. The mail has not come yet but one is to go out in a few minutes. I have got the first cold that I have had but shall get over it soon. Charley & Steven are some sick but will get better soon. I have sent a few lines to Mahlon to let them know how he was. You may tell them that he is not very sick and is out when it is pleasant. He has eaten too much. Mr. [Josiah] Rood is better but at Newbern. Write all the news & about Uncle Samuel’s folks.
It snowed two inches at Newbern last night. None here. Send me a box of Branch’s [ ] Pills in a paper or something. Give my respects to all. — Newcomb Dyer
1 The 7th Regiment North Carolina Infantry built the barracks south of Newport for quarters in the winter of 1861 and 1862. Shortly thereafter, the cluster of log huts was captured by Union troops, who added a hospital, headquarters, stables, storehouse and earthworks. Newport Barracks effectively became a Federal supply depot, since it was located near both the Atlantic Ocean and railroad tracks.
Letter 7
Newport Barracks
North Carolina
February 17th 1863
Dear Father & Mother,
I received your letter dated the 7th the 16th, and one from Nathan & Eliza & from Williamsburgh. The one from Marantha came to Newbern in four days. They do not come here as quick as to Newbern. Was glad to hear that all are well. As for money, I have near 7 dollars & don’t think I shall spend it before we are paid off. We may be paid the first of March or expect to be. We do not know how long we shall stay here but think that it will be as late as the first of April & hope it will be the remainder of the time. A company of cavalry are with us now & we expect another. Our company goes on short expeditions frequently. They have been on three. Brought us some horses and other things. We go on now about three times a week. It is far easier than our drill at Newbern.
I think the heifers will be worth more to come in as soon as you can have them. You had better not raise those little calves that we have this spring. I had rather winter the lambs. The hogs can eat the milk and save the corn for the steers. They ought to have some meal. Have you killed a pig or not? If you did not winter any turkeys, have Sears buy two good hens & a big gobbler when down to Hatfield. Have good ones or none. I think tat what sugar you have to sell you can get the most in molasses. Make clear & sell it at the door. It ought to fetch a dollar as sugar is now & other things. You can fix the buckets before you want them to be ready. Don’t feed the sheep more than they will eat & be careful & not let the lambs die.
My cheese & dried apple are not gone. The dried apple comes handy. You had better see if Sears cannot find a market for the molasses, what you have to sell more than to pay for making. May be that Levi Beals will take it. I should try and sell it if I could or it won’t come to much.
I had a bad cold the first of this month but am around & on guard all the time. It is hot and a cold don’t hang on long. Charley is in the hospital at Newbern. When the cars come in today, I will write how he is. Fordyce is better than he has been for several weeks & Mr. Rood is better. All the others are in good average condition. I have just heard from Charley and he is better and doing first rate.
February 18th. It is rainy. All are well. The mail goes this afternoon to Newbern. If you have got to buy flour, you had better buy some seed to [ ] & you can get better now than in the spring. You can go to Charlemont in a day or where you can get good. It wil pay & you had better sow all east of the house. I shall send a letter to Newell soon & you must write often. Yours, &c. — N. Dyer
Letter 8
Newport Barracks, North Carolina
February 26th 1863
Dear Father & Mother,
As the mail goes out this afternoon, I thought you might like to hear from me although I have no news of any consequence. Yesterday I received two letters from you & the pills & today four—one from Mr. Nelson Campbell, one from Emily & Alfred each, and one from Mr. Tirrel’s folks. We have heard of the death of Thad Rood’s child & the latest dates are February 20th. Our mail boat was damaged & was delayed & some of the letters were 20 days in coming (the boiler was damaged).
For the last three days I have been building small log houses with others for picket posts. It is worth ten dollars to build one but they will stand for years and are more comfortable for us and I had rather work than stand guard. We have two cavalry companies with us & we go on picket now less than three times a week when men are not on detached duty.
It is very pleasant & spring like & showers are frequent. We do not have much cold weather. Charles is better but at the hospital. Theodore had a letter from Alson (now at Plymouth, N. C.) that Chauncy was sick with fever. We have heard that we were to go home in May and go to Camp Banks & try to get up a cavalry regiment of this & new volunteers. We would like it but don’t expect it. All of the Boys are in good health except Mr. Rood & Charles.
You need not buy turkeys if you think we had better not, but let that sheep one in a while have a chance to exercise or he will grow poor. I shall write soon to Nelson but have not time before the mail goes out as it gives us only two hours to read and write our letters. If the snow gets deep, remember the sugar house & write all the news in your next. Give my love to all & write soon. — Newcomb Dyer
Letter 9
Newbern, North Carolina
March 25th 1863
Dear Father and Mother,
I received your letter today and was glad to hear that you were better but did not know that you had been so sick as one of the boys had received any thing of it in their letters. From all sources, we hear of bad colds but here we have had but few. The climate is just what I like but it will be hot soon.
Charles Gloyd has come to the tent today and soon will do duty. Went to the hospital February 12th. Has been there 7 weeks. Mr. Rood is with the company & healthier than he has been since in North Carolina. We have not started for Plymouth yet but two companies have gone & the boats are waiting for us in the river. But the Rebs drove in our pickets at Deep Gully last night and report says that they are coming down the other side of the Neuse to shell the city & maybe we shall be kept here a few days before we go. If they come this time, they will bring big siege guns but we shall be better prepared than before as we have jad reinforcements in cavalry and artillery. I have not yet heard an account of the battle but shall have to wait for the papers from the North.
What do the folks think of the draft & will they resist it? We have heard that Charleston had been taken but don’t believe it. Mr. Woodward wants to know how much I will take for the Buck. If you don’t want to keep him, you may sell him. Wool will be worth near a dollar and he is big. I told Mr. Woodward that he might have him for what he was worth & you might keep the Cossett [pet lamb]. Kill all the little calves & I will buy one or two good ones. The pigs can eat the milk. Edwards is a good health. Weighs 203. I 207. Strawberries are in blossom and grass is getting up high where it can grow. Saw some of the best land in our last tramp that ever I saw. There will be plenty of it when the war is over.
I have had a letter from Nathan & Jerry. Nathan thinks that he shall work for Tirrell this summer. Heard from Uncle N. & Aunt Lucy the last mail. They were well.
26th. The mail goes today. We are all well & the weather 8s cool. If you want to make good molasses you must strain and skim the sap and syrup down every day. Write in your next all about sugaring & how many calves, their color, and the lambs & don’t let them die. How does the hay hold out? You had better sow the wheat early and get some good seed if possible. Wm. Dyer has clean.
We expect to go to Plymouth tomorrow & shall have a good ride. Who takes Gerry’s camp this year? As I have no more to write, I close with the expectation of hearing from you soon. — N. Dyer
P. S. Address is Newbern. Go to Plymouth this afternoon.
Letter 10
Newbern, North Carolina
March 26th 1863
Dear Uncle & Aunt,
Today finds me writing although I have nothing of interest to communicate, having nothing but our daily routine of duties which we have become accustomed to that we feel entirely destitute of exercise or excitement that is agreeable. At times like these we do not depend on the comforts and position we retain but draw a great share of our happiness from the remembrance of the days spent in Massachusetts. Here we are thrown wholly from some portions of society, our habits changed & climate different from our own & scenery new to us. As I look away, I miss the old hills of New England. I feel as though I was in a hollow or half sunk. You can see only as you walk all scenery comes by driblets. We have none of those grand and noble views that make one stand and want for words to express his admiration. But no place has all things perfect or that which we desire. The climate here in the winter is very mild compared to our Northern winter & it seems a pity that so much of the best of land should be left to waste while worthy citizens are living on the dregs of the mountains.
But things are so ordained & suffering that never was known in the North has followed the poor whites here for years. They seem to have lost all ambition to acquire a more comfortable position & live on that which fall to them from someone that wishes to use them for his benefit. They themselves feel lower than the slave & every move & action indicates a crushed & wicked ambition. The slaves are smarter & more witty for the reason they have the society of their masters in a measure of which the Whites are deprived. Our soldiers will be nearer alike than when they went into camp for they partake of each others habits, but I hope to be in a condition not to make my friends ashamed of me.
The news here we get from the North. Have not had an account of our late skirmish in this place but suppose you have had it all. We were out five days, marched 60 miles & drove the Rebs 20 up the Trent River. Saw the best land that I have seen yet. One can make more money in five years than in a lifetime in Plainfield. The climate is good, far better in winter. One can work all winter on a farm. I could live here contented by having a few of my acquaintances with me.
So far I like a soldier’s life far better than I expected to. Have had but one cold & that through carelessness. Strawberries are in blossom & peaches & cherries were a month ago. The weather is getting rather warm but dress accordingly. Expect to go to Plymouth this afternoon as two of our companies went several days ago. The town is on the Roanoke River 160 miles from here. Think that we are to build forts and maybe fight some. We like to move. It kills time faster. C[harles] Gloyd is well and Mr. Rood better than any time since in the South. All others are well now. Write all the little news & accept of my thanks for your other long & interesting letter and I will close with the expectation of hearing from you soon. Yours respectfully, – N. Dyer
P. S. Address as before.
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