E.G. Filer.
		            Washington City.
Office for Payment of Commutation of Rations on Furloughs.
	459 "C" Street, (NEAR BALTIMORE & OHIO DEPOT.)
     Washington, D.C.,  May 1st, 1864

To
    the Gov. Staff:
		     Gentlemen:
				I
suppose you expect a dissertation
from me on the subject of improve=
=ments: I will admit that improvement
when properly applied, is very benefi
=cial & generally productive of good;
& congratulate you, heartily, on that
of the Auds. Office - & farther,
I can not go; I was surprised &
pleased on the receipt of your note
& thank you kindly for the remembrance.
I have, since seen, Barnard. Ben.
& the whole command  They are
all well & in fine spirits. eager
to take Richmond (I believe that to
be a stereotyped phrase) "eager to
take Richmond"   The man is

at the head of the army now
that can take them to Richmond
as fast as they can travel, Genl.
Grant. will have that beautiful City
in a short time & then the
war will begin to approximate to
a close   I think there are few
men in the army, who deem the
taking of that miserable place.
of any vital effect to the Rebels:
tho it would be a grand thing
to take their fortified Capital from
them - I think there will be no
prisoners there to liberate, when
Richmond succumbs to Union
bayonets & Grants strategy but
a mighty Genl. will lose his prestige
([illegible in original]) - I had the pleasure of shaking
hands with Lieut. Genl. Grant. and
of course felt highly honored Cant
say so much for the Genl. - Wonder
if he recognized my rank (smelt)
I guess - it is a hard matter

for me to tell what I am, unless
it be a nuisance - Do you remem
=ber what Blackstone says of those
things? (nuisances) - I have been
on duty in Washington since
November last. have a three
story building for an Office & 
Every thing very convenient: A con
=traband answers my call & Keeps
my boots polished. I find them
very handy. very indeed & yet they
have been the curse of the country
The army is full of them & they
receive more pay than a soldier:
receive $20. & $25. per month. I
think I wrote to Judge Woodworth
some time since. & presume he
    the letter
read ^ to you & I need not repeat
my experience.  My duties at
present consist in are disbursment
of funds. [Pay?] commutation of
rations on Furlough - A soldier 
while absent on furlough does

not receive rations or Subsistence
from the Govt & commutes for
that time at the rate of $25/100 per
day. what it actually costs the
Govt to feed each man, I
disbursed over $30,000 last month
in that manner  A man needs
a fortune to live in this city __
Board cannot be had for less than
$40.00 per month & very common
at that. a chew of michigan
Tobacco costs ten cents & a shave
25 cents __ That last is the heaviest
portion of my expenses. my face
breeds hair about as fast as a
soldiers shirt does grey backs__
only it dont __ no sir. I havent got
a whisker [illegible in original] __ I dont
know that I shall ever see you
again, but live in hopes__ You
will please remember me to
Mr.. Jones & the back room clerks
       my [respects?]
as well the of ^ the Front room [illegible in original] You
see I am warned, by those errors to
stop writing & respect the Sabbath __
Please write to your Ex associate
& friend
Gov. Bagley		E.G. Filer           address
Dr. Clapp				Washington
Eden Potter
Judge. Wordworth				D.C.
Mr. Grossman
Halsey D. [Porten?]     Will you have a lemon?