Letter from Charles Silas Morton


                                                           Camp of Instruction
                                                           July 4, 1861
Dear Mother -

    As Isham Gilliam speaks of going home tomorrow I will take the opportunity to
let you hear from me.  I have received no letter from you since the one Pa wrote by
Tom Gilliam which I would have answered by Tom but for the fact that I was very busy
and knew that Tom could tell him all that I could write.  I was a little unwell at
the time Tom left but have entirely recovered and feel as well as I ever did in my
life.  While I cannot deny that there are many things in my situation disagreeable
and uncomfortable, yet they are fewer than I expected and such as a man who is will-
ing to be satisfied can easily put up with.

    We still occupy the same quarters and I hope we will be allowed to do so until
we leave here for there are no better on the premises.

    I do not know how long we will remain here but as we expect to be attached to
Gilham's regiment it is very probable we will remain 2 or 3 weeks.  Col. Gilham is
making up a select regiment and will not leave here until his men are well drilled
and equipped.  I'm more pleased at the prospect of going with him than with anything
that has occurred since I've been put here.  He is confessedly the best drill
master in the army and has great influence in getting good arms and equipment, etc.
It is very evident that our whiskey drinking Governor has made some most wretched
appointments and I for one am very loth to undertake the service under his militia
Cols. and politicians.  It is too late to grumble now but there can be no kind of
doubt that he has done the state more harm than a lifetime of service could atone
for by putting incompetent officers in command when all we hold dear is at stake.
We have the consolation, however, that our enemies are as bad off if not worse in
that respect than we are.
  
    I have met with a great many acquaintances and among the rest Dr. Harris whose
farm is in possession of the Yankees.  He expected to get some appointment and went
off for that purpose and has not been to camp since.  I suppose Tom Gilliam has
given you some idea of the life but I will go thru one day to give you some idea of
it.

    We are awaked by the drum in the morning a little after sunup and attend roll
call after which we drill until breakfast, excusing enough from each mess to cook.
As we mess at present with the officers our cooking is done for us.  We have break-
fast about 1 1/2 hrs. by sun or earlier, which consists of cold light bread and
wheat bread warm (which the men have to bake themselves) coffee and bacon or beef
on Tuesdays and Fridays.  We then talk about and read the papers until nine o-clock.
I, as orderly sargeant, make up my morning reports.  At 9 we drill 1 to 1 1/2 hrs
according to the industry or laziness of the cadet and are then free until 4 in the
evening.  At 12 1/2 we have dinner which consists of bacon (not always the best in
the world) beef (very good) twice a week beans rice, etc. for a moderate price.
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    We then stroll about, read and talk until 4 o'clock when we drill another hour
and are dismissed until dress parade which comes on at 6 1/2.  At this, visitors
attend and the soldiers turn out in full uniform if they have it.  We were favored
last Saturday evening with the presence of Gen. Lee and Pres. Jefferson Davis at the parade.
Gen. Lee is a stout built, fleshy, rather haughty looking man with no beard on his
face except an iron grey mustache and does not look like anyone I can think of.  His
fulness about the face and eyes would seem to indicate a fondness for drink, but it
is said that he is perfectly temperate.  Pres. Davis has a face somewhat like Hilary
Richardson but with very fine expressive blue eyes, one of which is defective, said
to be blind.  He came out yesterday evening again and made one or two short speeches
to the soldiers which were very impressive.  I did not hear all he said, but I
understood that in the commencement he said that he intended to meet the enemy on
the border and to carry the war into their own country.  He has purchased a fine
residence in a retired part of the town which he is having fitted up for his occupa-
tion.  It is not very far from Mr. Armistead's and this evening he went with me to
it and we went all over it.  It has 3 splendid parlors with the greatest number of
closets and doors I ever saw in a private house.  It has a beautiful back yard in
which we found his children (two boys and a girl) from 2 to ten yrs old, playing.
His little girl, the oldest, gave me a couple of roses.  Mr. Armistead wanted her
to kiss him but she very modestly refused.  The house is three stories high and
commands a magnificent view of the river and the lower part of the city. 

    I left off the description of our daily routine and dress parade.  After this
we have supper and then talk, sing (on Tuesday nights we go to preaching) and amuse
ourselves until sleep.  Mat Hill, Isham Sharpe Harvey, who married Eliza Gilliam,
Kiah Ford and at present the officers, mess together.

    And in this connection I will say that you may send by Isham Gilliam next
Tuesday, a ham a chicken or two and some cakes.  My respects to the neighbors,
especially cousin James Woodson's family.  Dick Watkins wanted me to write to him.
As there is nothing private in this letter please send it to him.  He can return it.

                                                        Your aff. Son,

                                                        Chas. S. Morton
				  
V.M.B. As explained by M.M. in the text, grandfather enlisted in the Army at the
       beginning of the Civil War.  When it became known that he was a surgeon, he
       was made an officer. Uncle Marshall believed that he was a Major at the War's
       end.
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