John Seacole letter to father about life at sea, 1864 Mar 28

G.B. Chenango. March 28th/64

Dear Father I received your letter yesterday Sunday, at the time i was having a good shake over the stove as i had the fever and augue but i’m all right again to day the doctor gave me som[e] pills, quinine and a (S. powder?)

You say you have some books for me and how you shall send them i guess you had better send them by express as the express man comes on board every day i will try and get a pass i could get a pass for next Sunday but i suppose you will not be in the city then i dont [know] when we will leave we may leave in a day or two and peraps [sic] not in two weeks,

There’s plenty of work on board all the time while we lay here they allways find something for us to do but when we go to sea they will have thing regulated I guess, we are turned and every day at 2 Bells (5 o’clock) then we scrub down decks, at 8 Bells we get Breakfast, hard crackers and coffee at 9 o’clock we are called to quarters when we have to clean Brasswork on our guns at 12 O’clock we get dinner fresh meat and vegetable soup, at 5 oclock we get supper hardtack and tea, much is the Bill of fare every day regular. Hammocks is piped down every night at seven oclock and we can turn in any time between that and 9 oclock when we must be in and all quiet for the night we have to stand a two hours watch every night i am glad you have part of your things moved up i suppose you will be all comfortable up there by next sunday.

I would like if you had time to call up at 104 Bowery and see if they get any letters from us as Billy as whrote 1/2 a dozen and got no answer yet as i have nothing more at present I will heave to and let her [illegible] Give my best wishes to ac____[illegible].

Yes J.