Letter Aug 6, 1864, Near Fortress Monroe, VA

Chesapeake Genl. HospitalNear Fortress Monroe VaAug 6th 1864My Dear ParentsI now take my pen in hand to answer your kind letter of the 31st ? which came to hand to day and found me as well as usual and I hope this will find all well and getting along good. I am glad to hear that father is on the gain tell him he should look out for the old cow next time and not let her out flank him. It is awful hot and dry here now. We had a little shower tonight but it did not amount to much. It only made the mosquitoes thicker than ever and most blood thirsty. I tell you they will almost carry a fellow off four of them will get a stretcher and come to our tents and try to get us on for to have a ride but we can't see it they want to get us on and then fly off with us and are just as likely to drop us in Richmond as any other place. Well I guess this will do for once. Lieut. Chas. Irwin came down here last Thursday. He is sick with a fever. He says the boys are all in fine spirits. Capt. Roberts is in the Corps Hospital sick. He has not been well this summer but has kept with the Regt. till a few days since when he was sent to this hospital. Well what do you think about the war. Things are progressing favorably and they Genl Grant has a given them a little bit of a kick and in my opinion we can look for more one of these days that will set Mr. Johnny secesh a flying. I am detailed as night watch now. I am on duty from 9 o'clock at night until one then have the remaining part of the hours to myself. Please excuse this for the paper is worse then poor and the pen is worse yet. From your affec sonChas D. Garlick