Camp, Fburg Friday evening Dear All, Capt. Ripley leaves us in he morning & I cant but send a line by him tho' the mail to day has taken one forward. Two letters written to you in one day ain't that pretty well. Col. John H Almy is here to night, I have seen him but a moment & really said nothing to him as yet. Intend to see him in the morning before he leaves. Should like a good long talk with him but he goes between seven & eight. A large, part of this evening I have spent in the Yankee pastime of whittling & using my new knife I transformed a stick of pine wood into a chain - one of my old tricks. I intend to have a great deal of fun out of my new knife. The day after I wrote you concerning Genl Sumner's order, concerning commissaries & Officers, an order was published by - Genl Burnside - allowing officers to buy at - Government prices whatever they wish -, that the Commissary has on hand & -in such quantities as they like. - The articles to be charged to them & the account to be rendered to the Paymaster to be deducted from the muster Roll.- This is just & fair. - - Saturday morning - Capt. Ripley has vamoosed before I arose this morning, so I add to this & forward by mail. Saw Col. Almy a moment this A.M. but he has not been in - the - city lately I get no news from him but it's very pleasant to see a familiar face. Recd a few moments since yours of the 5th inst, enclosing a V. Dont send any more at present. I am sorry you sent this when you are so short & I am quite inclined to send it back. I can get along some way. Don't think of buying a field glass - it would be very pleasant but I dont need it. I should not buy one if I had the money & could right here. I thought it just possible that someone might wish to remember me & so wrote what I did. I wish Genl David Young had told Mrs. R to buy that instead of the pocky old camp Basket. I do not think a - first rate, small field glass - can be bought for $20, even in the cheapest kind of case. Finis on this subject. I am very much obliged to you for thinking so much about it but am glad you did not buy. I thought I should surely get mother's photograph for New Years & am quite dissappointed. I would like Steve Meech's very much & I wish I could get some of the prety girls in Norwich, but for the latter, I don't care especially after all. The rage for photographs is just reaching the Army in full force. Col. Harland has just recd some & I am going up to see them immediately. My regards to Mr. Secretary G. D. Coit. I think he manages the rents grandly. Wish I could have heard the old Dr. on the first Sunday. How kind Mrs. Williams is remember me to her if it is proper & to the old General. I agree with Mr. G. Douglas C that she is "a most discerning youth". I am glad you did not use it all for me as you proposed. There is again a report that we are to be paid off next week but I dare not believe any thing now a days. The mess now consists of Capt smith, Lt Goodrich. Lt Weed ("Dad") Shepard & myself. We did not want "Dad" but could not help it pleasantly. I dont know any thing about mothers man Fisk, with the magical number 8 from Griswold. So Dr. Webster has really started on his mission of love to the contrabands. I think he will find some queer subjects. Your affct son & bro Chas