Calvin Shedd letter to wife, S. Augusta Shedd and Bairns, February 26, 1863

              St. Augustine Feb 26th 1863 

Dear Wife & Bairns 

The Schooner lying here that expected to sail last Sunday sails tomorrow the wind permitting. I have not much to write. My health continues fair. I came of Picket this morning the Boys had a gay time at the house they got a Fiddle & danced till two o,clock if the Col had come along he would have raised the D__l with me for allowing so much noise. but it is my style to let the Boys have a good time, as we was coming home at daylight one of the Boys shot an Oppossum, they look very much like a Coon & smell half as strong as a skunk. some of them thought it was. I have understood that some of the "Grumbling Hunkers" have written home that the Niggers are used better than the Soldiers fed better & allowed to live in Houses &e while the Soldiers had to live out doors & many other complaints Now I should like to know if we as soldiers are so simple as to expect to live in Houses. I am mostly ashamed of them on that point, as to rations I know something about that no Negros have drawn rations except those at work for the Q.M. up to the time the men enlisted, since then the women & children have been obliged of course; while all of this time hundreds of whites were drawing rations & some of them rebels at that, some of the grumblers say that the Niggers get the best of the grub now I know that the poorest Meat & Bread, "Hard Tack", has been issued to them they draw no soft Break at all, & no clothing is issued to them till they are