A letter to his family from Portsmouth, VA. He is on his way to his regiment at the time of writing. He relates his activities while in transit to his regiment.
U. S. ARMY GENERAL HOSPITAL,
New Haven, Conn., 186
Portsmouth, Va.
Aug 30th 1863
My Dear parents and Brother
I now take this opportunity to write you a few lines. I am very well though somewhat tired after my journey but it is not finished yet. The Regt is about 50 miles from here way down in the middle of the dismal swamp and we are stooping here until we can get transportation down there. When I wrote you last we were at Bedlowes Island and now we are way down in old Virginia.
We had a very pleasant journey coming down here. We left Fort Hood Bedlowes Island the 19th took the boat there from South Amboy there took the cars for Philadelphia which were so crowed that we with several other took the platform on the outside and I lay down and slept all of the way Philadelphia arrived there about daylight took a good breakfast at the Cooper shop refreshment saloon went from there over to the Baltimore depot took the cars there about 8 o'clock arrived at Baltimore at 3 o'clock pm stayed there until 6 o'clock took supper and stayed until next day about 10 o'clock took the cars for camp distribution stayed there till I got tired of that place (We left there the 27th came to Washington stayed over night marched over to Georgetown took the boat about 9 o'clock for Fortress Monroe arrived there at 1 am the next day stayed there about an hour and then took the boat across to Portsmouth where we are now. I must close for we have come to fall in and go up to the Gen. Harland head quarters. Give my respects to all that enquire and write soon and tell me all of the news. We have pretty good news here this morning from Charles so good bye for this time.
As ever your affectionate son
Charles D. Garlick
PS. Direct to Charles D. Garlick
Co I 8th Regiment
Portsmouth Virginia
Via, Washington D. C.
