Calvin Shedd letter to wife, S. Augusta Shedd and children, February 8, 1863

              St. Augustine Feb 8th 1863 

Dear Ones 

Feb 9th Monday morning I am very well it is very plesant Tell Cox to be sure & keep the measure of my Boots & Shoes as I may want some more 

The Steamer Boston went to Fernandina with the Secesh & has returned for the rest, & will sail today, or tomorrow the Delaware went yesterday, with a Mail with two letters for you, but I presume you will get all of them by one mail. I have already written that the Box came on the Delaware all safe & in good order, I have suffered a good deal of comfort already in having good Tobacco to chew & smoke, I light my pipe get on my slippers, cock my feet up on a chair, & smoke look at my slippers & half funy myself at home, I have been quite lame since I came off Guard, we had a furious rain & I got wet & a cold, there is a peculiarity in Colds here with me they dont last but a day or two, at home, they would hang on a fortnight.

A Man came over the lines yesterday reported that the Guerillas came to his house tried to have his son go with them, he refused, at that they took him out and murdered him, after robbing him of a hundered dollars. I wish we might just get hold of them for a few minutes, the Secesh say now their families are gone that they will attack us; I hope they will do it, if they dont get a taste of old Ft St Mark, there is no Virtue in modern Columbiades & Sea-Coast Howitzers with 8 in Shell, we have got some 1500 shell & 100 [     ] of Powder which will last a spell they will have a good time taking us I think unless they bring a heavy Seige-Train which I dont think they have got in East Fla