Suffolk Va Sunday A.M. Dear Geo. We arrived at this place yesterday P.M. & I have my tent pitched again and am comfortably settled once more. I almost wish now that you had come with me but you would have passed two most uncomfortable days & have been up all Friday night nearly frozen stiff. You would have had though a deeper insight into the beautites of a soldier's life. We did not leave camp at Newport News until 5 P.M. so it was dark before reaching Norfolk & about 9 P.M. we were on the cars bound for this place. All night at Norfolk we waited, first for the baggage to be unloaded & loaded & then for the cars to start - tedious enough. I thought much about you - So glad you could have been with me ever for so short a time. I hope you reached Baltimore without trouble or delay. Be sure & write me from Baltimore Give my best love to Mrs. Perkins Becky, the boys and all our friends. Your afft bro Chas No signs that we can see of an engagement or movement of any kind, we have a good enough camp ground near the city. I enclose letter from James just recd Eleven o'clock A.M. The latest news is that our division coming down here was a mistake & that we shall return soon & the first division occupy the place as was originally intended. If this proves true won't it be provoking. It is only a rumor & we always have the like. a deal of amusement. Carried them up to the General's first. George must give my best regards to the captain. If Stedman calls him out & he is in need of a second the old 8th can furnish one. We received yesterday Genl Burnside's order assuming command of us & also orders to hold ourselves in readiness to move but the order is dated about the time we left N. News & contemplates the moving of only two the 2d & 3d divisions of the old 9th Corps leaving the 1st division here for the present, but Genl Wilcox was in command of the Corps, temporarily, when the order to send one division to this place, & we un- derstand that he disobeyed his orders and send the 3d instead of the 1st, -his own division - we therefore judge that we shall remain here for the present as the first division has already gone west, taking boat to Baltimore & rail from there. While we remain here you can consider me entirely safe. I am Brigade officer of the Day tomorrow, that's tedious. I must dry up & go to bed. I suppose Geo. is home ere this. Genl Aiken, the Governor's son in law was present at our Dress Parade this P.M. I did no speak with him, Love, Love, Chas Thursday morning. I wish George would inquire the price of a - small sole leather trunk with a canvas cover. My old trunk is decidedly jolly, there is hardly a limit to its capaacity & it answers for centre table and easy chair. So long as I can carry it I prefer it to any other but it looks very monsterous beside the valises of other officers, ^but 3 or 4 have trunks, but they are small.^ & I keep asking my self "how long can this last? It's rumored that we are to be paid off in a day or two but that's been the standing news ever since we came up from No Carolina. Another rumor is that Major Upham will be made Colonel of the 15th C.V. I hope not for our sakes. He is a most valuable officer & we should all much regret such a change. Must get on my "pretties" ready for Guard Mounting we have Brigade Guard mounts now a days & the Guards of this Brigade will all present arms and then pass in review before your humble servant. George will under- stand this as he has visited the Army. Good morning, Chas