Oct 31st 63. 

Well Cousin Hen, 

I take this pleasant opportunity to scribble these few lines in answer to yours of the 26th. I see by your letter that you did not receive mine, or the last one I sent you. . . I was on the move for 2 weeks. I have just got through making out Four Pay Rolls, and I had to put the Clothing Actt on them and I am so tired writing I can hardly hold my Pen in my Fingers And I have got a small Shelter Tent, and the Orderly Sergt in with me, so I have not got room to turn in it. And to top off it has been raining like hell nearly all night and until 11 O’clock this morning, when it cleared off good and cold. If we only had orders to go in winter quarters I would feel a dam site better. . . Now, Hen, I will try and finish this note, for it is the 9th hitch I have had at it. I have just come in off an Inspection, and I hope that I will have the rest of the day to myself, seeing as it is Sunday. It is a beautiful day, more like the 4th of July than like the first of November. . . I have just got relieved from the command of the Company. The wounded Officers that got wounded at the 2d Battle of Fredericksburg has just returned to the Regiment for duty and 1st Lieut. Brady has been put in command. It is a grate relief to me, for I have had a dam site of trouble in the last month back, for I have not had any help whatever.

I received a letter from Hiram Perine a couple of days ago. He is talking about starting a gin mill around Giffords Lane. I think it will pay around thare, especially if thare is mutch travelling on the Fresh Kill Road. Hen, I have been thinking about starting a Oyster Salloon if I live for the eight weeks to come, and I would like you to go in with me. Let me know in your next what you think about it. If you think you would like it, you could get your Eye on a place and we will try and secure it. There is more money made in a Salloon where we could keep oysters opened by the measure and in the shell, segars, wines, liquors, ete. than any other business a man can go into. I will be down on hard work after I come home, and if I can get along without it you can bet your life I am going to do it. When you write to Emma give her my love. I have no news to write you so I will close

By signing Myself your Cousin in love and Friendship, 

Lieut. A. T. Perine Co. C. 62d Regt. N. Y. S. V. Army of the Potomac, Va.

Camp Sedgewick, near Brandy Station. 

Kerr, M. (1955) In love and friendship. 

The letters of Abraham T. Perine, ensign of the Anderson Zouaves. 

Contributed by J. Tierney