Camp near Plymouth [North Carolina]
May 16th 1863
Dear Sister Myra,
It is some time since I have heard from you ad I have not wrote in some time and so here goes. We are all well and over head and ears in work digging, chopping, and picket duty. Our brigade is all the troops that are here and the duty will be heavy for awhile until the place is fortified. Plymouth has been a nice place for a small one but the best buildings are burned and some of the brick buildings pierced for rifles which makes the place look military. The streets are all lined with shade trees and soldiers quarters where the elite once lived. We are outside of the town in new tents raised with boards 4 feet high—4 in each tent. We have brick walks in front of the tents, one walk right in front and one the whole length so [sketch of parallel lines] and the corners are sodded over and all say they look nice. So you see we are comfortable.
We had a fine time coming here. We rode all the way, had had fair weather, and the fastest boat on the globe. We run through the southern scenery looking as real as could be. Saw no large snakes or alligators. Do not hear much in the way of news. Some mail come in the other day but there was none for me. Today a boat come in and brought some good news, if it is only true, but I am afraid it is not. The season is well advanced down here. Peaches, plums, & apples are as large as bird’s eggs. Corn is up nice. Strawberries are ripe and the rosebushes are in full bloom and as nice roses as I ever saw and a good variety too.
Tell Father I have been having fine times catching eels and catfish but fish are plenty and cheap and hardly pay for catching. Have you heard from Willie yet? And how does he get along? I am afraid he will be homesick and want to back out, but I hope not.
But it is late and the mail leaves at 6 tomorrow and I was on picket guard last night. Write as soon as convenient and remember my love to all. — A. H. Bancroft
No Cause to Blush 