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[Different handwriting on top]
No 228
Mailed Mch 27 at Port Royal
Recd Apr 1

[Letter]
Jacksonville, Fla.
March 23, 1864

Dear Father
The many kind letters from yourself & dear Mother which have arrived recently were
read with more pleasure than you can imagine. The answers to those letters have not, I
know, been so full or so frequent as I would have wished, but you know well that I have
had a great deal to do-much care and responsibility for a long time now. Capt. Jones, I
am happy to say, is with me once more, and I am in a great measure relieved from a
portion. Capt. J. returned two days since, [and] is quite well with the exception of his
shoulder which will probably trouble him always. It may be very nice to go home, even
on account of a wound, but if I have got to have a wound before I get home I hope it will
be a long time. I may envy the going home part, but I do not envy the wound. There is
nothing very new to relate, excepting that we have our camp all laid out. Just got our
tents up-the men, Shelters, and it begins to look quite nicely all about. Got trees of
various kinds laid out around our tents, etc. [I] will cut a leaf from one of the trees and
send.

Yesterday I was officer of the guard and had the first fight with unruly men. It was a
fight of short duration tho.' One of the men in one of the Co. struck his Orderly Sg't
[Sergeant]. I heard of the fight, and of course it was my duty as officer of the guard to
interfere and arrest the offenders. I took a Corp'l [Corporal] and file of men and went
over, stepped up and parted the men, or attempted it. They were two strong men. My
guard got them apart. The man was wild with rage. Made a jump for the man again. I
stepped in to prevent it-liked to have gone on to the ground myself. I ordered the guard
to take the man to the guard house [but] he got away. I took hold of him-told him to go
quietly with guard. He attempted to strike me but I jumped back, drew my revolver &
knocked him down with the butt end. Stunned him so that we could drag him to the
guard house. If that had not been effectual, I should have shot the man on the spot-for I
always said if a man ever offered to strike me in this Reg't [Regiment] I should shoot
him.

I'm very glad that I did not [shoot?] this man for when he revived and thought a moment
he seemed very sorry for what had passed.

Drums are beating retreat & I must attend "Roll Call" of Co. then I will finish.
Good night

Affc. Son
C.M. Duren











Transcribed by Nicole J. Milano, University of Florida, 2008.