Camp Near Newport. News Va Feby 25th 1862
Dear Brother & Sister
			      We have left Baltimore 
& are now camped on the sacred soil of Va on the
bank of the James river 8 mi from Fortress Monroe
there are 9 [?] or 10, thousand troops here it is about 5
miles across the river on the oposite side is the rebel
camps we can see the rebel flag floating I have just
                                           see
been out with A glass I can ^  all of their works they
are very strongly fortified Norfolk can be seen Craney
Island is very strongly fortified there are batteries all 
                                                                 us
along close together I could see opposite ^ A large Flag
of red white & red we are surrounded on all sides
by the rebels they have often sent over to our
camp giving us 48 hours to leave threatened to
attack us they came within two miles of our
Picket last night head we were reinforced &
withdrew the rebel Gen told one of the Colonels
here he was coming over some morning to take
breakfast with us The Col told him he
would have it good and warm for him
how long we will stay here is quite uncertain
we are now waiting for transports it was
thought we were going to ship island but
I guess we will do some work nearer home
it is probable we will shell some of the 


Batteries or the other side, if such be the
case as this shall have reached you we
will perhaps be measuring still with the
enemy, we have just had the first days
Parade of the Regt the sacred soil of Va
& as I stood with uncovered head during
prayer thoughts of other days & other scenes
filled my mind I am not feeling very
brisk to day I was up all night last night
on Guard we had no Guard House I had
 to be out all of the time I thought it 
was [time?] that one man had to stand
out all night to see that the rest 
done their duty but it must be done
I wraped my Blanket round me & spent
the night in visiting the sentinels there 
was no officer of the Day or officer of the
Guard so it left me with all of the
business to attend to I would say
that we have reapt our harvest now
we have A heavy job on hand to [thresh?]
it I think our cilinder is plenty
large enough & plenty to feed it
yesterday the wind blew A perfect 
gale it blew down quite A number
of our tents it blew down my tent
the report is to night that Gen
Wool sent A Flag of truce to Norfolk to 

tell them to move the woman & children 
out within 48 hours There was one went up I
saw it as it went up I was looking at it 
with A glass it was taken up by A steamer
it was when I saw it about, 10, miles off
it came back in A short time we can stand
here in camp & see the [illegible in original] can see
Fortress Monroe there are two Frigates lying at
the Dock here they are mounted, 42, guns each
they look saucy we can see A whole fleet of
them up at Fortress Monroe the country is all 
laid in waste on this side I don’t know how
it is on the other side I expect we will have
a chance to see what is going on over on the
other side before many days it is not yet
decided where we will commence you will
please to give my respects to all write as
soon as you get this direct to Newport News
Warwick Co Va Mich Sixth Regt Co. K.
it is time to call the roll I must
close yours Affectionately & in haste
	G.B. Surdam. Sergt

Enclosed is some muscle shells I picked up 
of from the Beach some call them scolop 
shells

Feby. 27 after breakfast 
I went down on the 
Beach & picked up
those shells before
breakfast we are
having A mery
time call in &
take dinner bring [?]
your family
good day I must
go and mail 
my letter

Sergt Ser. [?]