10 October 1861

Camp Newton
October 10, 1861

Dear Father,

I received your letter about noon today. I am glad to learn that you have got your apples picked. You need not send me any homemade gloves or mittens but send me 2 pair of drawers. Do not make them too large. I am glad that you are a going to have the boots made of leather blacked on the grain side.

We have been at work on the fort again this afternoon, There were 5 more carriages for 32 guns. I think that we shall move before long if at all this fall but we expect to winter near here. I do not want to go into one of these forts & be shut up. I had rather be on the move. I wish they would send us to Kentucky, Missouri, or Western Virginia—anything to be on the move. Some topographical engineers at the fort today from Georgetown said 15 regiments of Pennsylvania troops crossed last night.

Tell Mary she may put in my slippers if she likes. A. L. wants to know if we have tomatoes? We pay a cent for a common-sized one but they are getting scarce now—and butter [too]. We can buy butter off the sutler for 30 cents [but it is] strong enough to draw a government wagon (almost) and that is as heavy as 4 common ones. That is all the butter we have. We have beens, pork, beef—salt & fresh, good bread, hominy, potatoes, tea & coffee. Bacon, sugar, & molasses—the latter two articles in very limited quantities—and vinegar. That I think is all—week out and week in. So you can see that we do not have any fruit, a few picked tomatoes—ripe or green, or cucumbers, or any other sauce would go good. He can put them in oyster cans. They will keep it. Don’t take but 2 or 3 days for them to get here.

Be sure & send me all I named in my last (hair brush). We don’t want any blankets. Put in good soles in our boots, linen thread & yarn. I have got a blanket larger than your horse blanket. In fact, I have got two. I have got the one I had at Elmira. I carried it to Bull Run. I would not have missed of going to Bull Run for $50.

Talk about rain, I was on guard at the fort the other night when it poured down most all night & the wind blew very cold & then lay down on a plank. Don’t talk about storms.

I will answer A. L. & Mary’s letters soon. I suppose we go on picket tomorrow, I have not received Mary’s paper. Put in a roll of licorice for a cold providing we catch them. Hod says you need not send any body lice for we have got them in the next tent & we can borrow. Tell Mother if she has any blackberries dried in sugar, to put in a can full. It won’t cost any more to send a box weighing 50 pounds than one 25 so fill it up with good things to eat & wear—whatever you can think of—and mark each one. Capt. Rowe has got back but my things are on the way. I must close. Roll will soon be called.

Yours respectfully, — Chas. E. Bradley

Some button needles, a fine comb, & pocket looking-glass.