Camp, May 18 A.M. Dear All, Yours of 15th recd this A.M. Yesterday I forwarded an application to be mustered out & I expect so to again be in the bosom of my family. Farewell to brass buttons. oh if I could only have received the Secretary ship of that Mining Co. would it not have suited me exactly tho' I really should not dare to assume any independent & responsible position at present. If I can only get a decent clerk- ship some where I shall be perfectly satisfied & then I can get posted again & fitting myself for something better, but I do dread any thing very confining this summer. I am very well & strong, can ride horseback all day but do not seem to recover my elasticity & nerve as I could desire. If my pockets were full of greenbacks I should spend the summer in the neighborhood of the white & Green Hills on New England. The last few days have been very warm & I feel that Virginia is no state for me this summer. Perhaps I shall find New York air is just the tonic I need at any rate I am in for a trial if I can find there any wood to be cut or any brick & mortar to be "hodded". I intend to come North immediately upon being mustered out. Dont think I shall ever delay to survey the "subsoiling" of the Army of the Potomac at Petersburg. very probably I shall take water transporation direct from Richmond to New York - that's cheapest and I think the sail might benefit me. I dont agree with Major Pratt & your self that because I have not heretofore "bummed" it in the army I can be excused if I do so now. I do not care at this late day to abate a lot or little from my present good name & I cant see every one else engaged & lie round myself doing nothing. P.M. I mail to day two Richmond papers & two to Mrs. R. Hotchkiss. Sidney DeKay has returned to the Regt & is acting Adjutant. Yesterday I received notice from the ordinance Department that my first Return, my responsibility for the whole of 1863 has been received & accepted. Bully for that. If I knew how to direct I would send Etta Russell a Richmond paper as you proposed I shall have no trophies to distribute when I get home. I have no opportunities for seeing any thing here & its too late to get any thing worth having. Your answer to this will undoubtedly find me still here. Did Mrs. Geo. Ripley recover from her illness this spring. I have heard nothing since I left Norwich. I intended to have asked Mr. D. C. Ripley but forgot it. [1] Rev. Mr. Parsons spoke particularly about Aunt Mary. I could not remember at first who Mary Belden was but when he said she married Mr. Geo. Coit I exclaimed oh Aunt Mary. I may stop at Washington or New York on my way North & possibly drive straight thro' to New Haven. Where I sit down to write I always forget what I particularly wished to write about & I think I have now. Peas, strawberries, cherries, Asparagus, have been quite plenty for a week or two but we are so far from Richmond that we do not often get supplied. Best love, Remember me to all New Haven friends, Your affct son + bro Chas.