Calvin Shedd letter to wife, S. Augusta Shedd and children, April 17, 1863

              St. Augustine Apr 17/63 

My Wife & Children 

The Neptune leaves in the Morning with the Mail & I will write a word; but dont know what to say; there is no news nothing but the humdrum of garrison life I wish the rebs would just scare us a little if nothing more. My health is pretty good & I hope the next letter from you will report you fully recovered. Capt Cotton grows more intimate with me I sometimes think it is not because he likes me better but that he likes Hooper less there is one thing he has found out that I know my biz pretty well & he leaves all the drill of the Co. to me, he is the best posted of any Capt in the Regt but the men refer knotty points to me the same as they used to in Co. C. the Rebs offered Mr. Riddell $50 for his Boots & the same for his Hat which cost $2.00 north he could have sold his cloths for $150 which did not cost him $25, so there is no mistake about their being short. he fared as well as they did but went without food for 48 hours once then a reb soldier divided a peice of pork with him which was all the poor fellow had afterwards he got