Ship Island. Miss
			April 12, 1861

Dear Mother
	         It is not very often I can
send a letter to you & not often either
I can get a chance to write one.
We have to drill with our knap-
sacks on in the sand so that we are
well worked.
    Last Wednesday Gen Butler received
the troops on this island. He is
altogether a different looking man
from what I supposed he was.
He is a short, thickset man, and
of a dark complexion, I should judge
If it were not for the prospect of
getting off soon, I should give up in
despair.
    Our brigade is commanded by 
Gen Williams a fussy fuming
little old man, ‘more nice than
wise There are two batteries of artillery
& a squadron of cavalry, connected

with us.
    Our regiment received a supply
of Austrian rifles yesterday. In
my opinion they don’t amount 
to much.
  I heard about a week ago of the
fight at Newport News a day or
two after we left there. It was decidedly
rough wasn’t it.
    Charley Heine sent in his resignation
the other day. It has not been accepted
yet. He will withdraw it if we
leave, but is tired of staying here. 
The Captain say he cant stand it.
The next time you write send me
$2 worth of postage stamps. They
cannot be got here.
   The “New London” brings in [barges?] every
day. She is a fast sailer & is called
by the rebels “Black Devil

		Mrs. Maria Bostock
			Marshall
			  Calhoun Co
			       Michigan