Dear Mother,

I received your letter this morning and was very glad to hear from you all.  I wrote last Sunday.  I thought you had not got my letter, it was so long ago.

I have got some money now.  We shall have plenty of it the first of November.  I am in pretty good health now, except a slight cough.  We shall probably go to Annapolis in a few days to exchange with four other companies.  We shall get uniforms when we get to Annapolis.  I will get my likeness taken when we get there.

I have not seen the Connecticut  Regiment, only as they passed along the railroad.  The regiments at Annapolis are posted outside the city, except Sherman’s Battery and the 8th Michigan.  There is 15,000 in all.  They are to form a brigade under General Sherman.  They are leaving every day.   I guess they all embarked by this time.  They are under sealed orders .  They don’t know where they are going themselves.  There is another brigade to follow as soon as they leave.  We see a great many regiments go through  to Washington .  They go by the Junction from all parts of the country.

We are well provided with clothing.  We buy milk at a farmers close by for 6 cents a quart.  We can buy anything we want  at the stores.  Some things are rather dear; molasses at 80 cents a gallon.  Most things are about the same price as at home.  We have a very  good place for an encampment.  The weather has been stormy for nearly two weeks.  There has been but slight frosts, yet it is a very good place for winter quarters at Annapolis Naval School.  I suppose we shall be quartered there and be on  picket all winter.  I guess we shant have a chance to fight much for the present.

I should like to get a peep at Thompson to see what is going on.  I suppose Esther Barrett is swelling as fast as ever.  We don’t have a great deal of female society  here; nothing but niggers the country through.  You have heard a great deal about the Baltimore Belles.  I did not see a pretty girl in Baltimore.  The most respectable streets are 6 inches thick with dirt and mud.  Annapolis is a very dirty hole.  We marched out into the city once when we were at Annapolis.  The officers go out when they want to but the privates are not allowed outside.  If they did, they always come home drunk. 

I don’t think of very  much to write.  There was no stamps in the letter. I don’t know how they got out.  I have got plenty now.  When I wrote I did not know when we should get paid off.  I have two penny stamps that I took to make change.  I will send them to put on papers.  The papers you sent have not come yet.  They will come tomorrow, probably.  I should like to see you all very much but I can’t now.  Write as soon as you get this.  I was glad to hear that Electa was better.  Direct your letters to Annapolis, in car of Col. Augustas Morse, 21st Mass. Regiment, Vol.  Goodbye to you all for this time.

From your son and brother,