Norfolk Mo, Camp Davies
Sept 20, 1861My Little Zetty,
I have a few moments to write before Mr. Phillips starts for Centralia. I have not heard from you or Little Oscar since I saw you on the boat at Birds Point. I think some of you might write to me when you know I always want to hear from you. Zetty, I never will forget our parting at the boat. All I ask is to get some mail and be remembered. We are camped in a very nice and shady [undecipherable portion] when it rains. It is still dry, but we have to spread our blankets on the ground and that is our bed. The blankets get full of sand every night, but we shake them clean every morning. I take a hurried washing with soap every morning. That is my head, neck, and arms and wash all over in the river with soap once or twice a week. We have just eat breakfast, had plenty such as it was. But Zetty, it is terribly hard sour bread, fat meat, hard crackers, coffee and no sugar, but I do not care for sugar, so I get coffee, but John says sugar is half his living. We have to drink river water. It is poor stuff, but I think better for us, as we do not drink near as much as when we get it. I do not take over one drink a day of water. I still think we will go back to the point, but know no more about it than you do. The boys have
©2006 C.S. Parkinson
