Jan 15 1863 (a Gooch Letter)

During his time with the 27th Maine, Private Charles Gooch, of Company I, wrote over fifty letters to his wife Julia, back home in Kennebunk, Maine. The following is a letter he wrote to her on the 15th of January 1863. I've transcribed it as written, with lack of punctuation and spelling errors included.

           Camp Genl Casey Vir Jan 15 63
                       My Dear wife
It is with plasure that I take this
oppertunity to inform you that
I am well and hope you are the same
I received A letter from Theodore to
day he said you was into his house
that day so I suppose you are better
or you would not be out
I expected A letter from you to day
but I did not get one
I should have written to you yesterday
but I was out on picket and had no
convinience to write I went out monday
and was releived this morning we had
first rate weather our picket line has
ben changed so it does not take (all)
so many men as it did before and we
only stay out 3 days now and then
we shall not have to go out Again
​for 2 or 3 weeks

my post was near a house occupied
by A irishman the talk there
was that he was secesh but he
used to talk with me like A union
man I went up around the house
when he was out around it he appeared
very friendly indeed he invited me
to go in but I did not his wife
came out he told her she was at
liberty to give me A sup of milk
to put in my coffee (fath) but I
told them I had ben to coffee
that morning and did not want
it (fath)
​In your last you enclosed a extract
from the watchman and reflector the first
part of it was correct as far as I kno
the last part of it is not as far as I kno
as regards liquor among privates I
have not seen one drop of liquor
sence I came into virginia they do
not allow it sold in alexandria
​and what there is got has to be

smuggled from washington one
day when we was over to Camp
Seward there was two soldiers
from Ft albany they came up to me
and asked me if I wanted to buy
some good liquor they told me they
had some that come from washington in 
bottles in their pockets I told them
I did not they went down through
the lines and sold some to two
men in one of the lower companys
they got intoxicated and one case beside
this is all the efects of rum that I
have seen sence I came in vir but
if they have rum in Ft Albany they
do not have in the 27 Me
I have ben puzzelling my brain to try
and think of something to write that
will interest you but I cannot
and so I shall have to close
I wish I could think of enough
​to fill up the sheet but I cannot

so hopeing soon to see you and
and be with you and enjoy
your society whitch I prize
above all other I close
your affectionate hus
                                C W Gooch

PS you wanted to know if I
and Isaac stopped to geather we
do not when we lived in tents
we had 4 syblie and 7 A tents
he is ordely sargent he and 2 other
sargents had one A tent and
there was 3 other tents between
him and me and they claimed
the first partment I come in
the next so there is room
​to go over the top of that

Notes:
(pg 1) "Theodore" is Theodore Gooch, a cousin of Charles W Gooch, who also lived in Kennebunk. His full name is mentioned in an earlier letter.
(pg 2) The Christian Watchman and Reflector was a Baptist newspaper style weekly periodical, printed in Boston, MA. The article mentioned by Charles was likely from the Dec 25th issue (viewable on Genealogy Bank w/ subscription), which included a letter written by a soldier at Fort Albany, describing the 27th Maine (and other units) marching onto the grounds.
   (fath) = perhaps he meant "faith"? As he wrote this word on both ends of the sentence where he declined the offer of milk, was he fibbing about already having coffee that morning? Charles was a religious man, so perhaps he felt bad about lying to the Irishman and wife, so called that out in his letter.
(pg 4) "Isaac" is Sgt Isaac Emery of Kennebunk, who was the brother of Charles' wife Julia.