To read this and the accompanying letter, it looks as thou he was better educated than most soldiers. He even attempts to quotes the poet Robert Burns, as you will see in the following letter.
 

Suffolk Nov. 23/62                        

Dear Parents,

I suppose that I must put pen to paper and write you a long letter. Well as I have written you before, the 53^rd Regt. And the 132^nd were consolidated, and after a long time we received marching orders and went marching along for the land of Dixie. On the 28^th day of Sept. we struck tents packed knapsacks and took the cars at East New York for Brooklyn. We marched through the city amid the cheers of the thoughtless and tears of the thoughtful. We crossed over from Brooklyn to New York and made the usual show off march through Broadway where we were greeted with all manners of cheers, shouts and waving flags. We received some very encouraging remarks from the spectators. Such as, go it old hoss, go in lemons and get squeezed, bully for you, give them hell. At the foot of Broadway we took the Ferry for Jersey City and after much cramming, jamming, cussing, fussing, crying, sighing and soon we were all afloat. At the depot on the Jersey side the same rushing and crushing scene was enacted as on the New York side. But time and tide and railroad trains wait for no man and soon we were rushing over ridges-rattling over bridges-running through the bale(?). Bless me it was not pleasant riding on a rail. We had about thirty cars in our train and it dragged its slow length to the discomfort of all the living freight aboard. On the morning of the 29^th we reached Harrisburg Pa. And stopped to get our breakfast which was given to us by the Quarter Master from one of the freight cars. Cold ham, bread and coffee was the bill of fare. As soon as our breakfast was over, toot-toot went the whistle, and away went the train for Baltimore  When within about thirty miles of the city we hed pass them.  We arrived at Baltimore at about 1began to pass the pickets of the rail-road guard. They cheered us as we rus2 o'clock at night.  Many thought and few talked of the 16^th of April when the Mass. 6^th passed through the city (By the by the 6^th Regt. Mass. Volunteers is in camped here very near us). After leaving the cars, we were formed into line and marched through the city to the Union Relief Rooms for refreshments.  that night we lay upon the sidewalks, some to sleep and some to dream-to dream of dear ones at home-some to dream of the horrible reputation that they were about to seek at the cannons mouth-morning came-noon came-night came and morning came again before we got orders to move on to Washington-In Washington we encamped near the capital. On the second day the paymaster came and paid us twenty five dollars apiece-The money seemed to burn in the pockets of many I have seen soldiers pay as high as three dollars for a pint of whisky that was smuggled in to them. It is a curiosity to see the different ways that soldiers had to get rid of their money-Some sent it home to their friends-some spent it for smuggled liquor at outrageous prices-some buy nick knacks of the sutler at robbing prices-some lose it-some give it away and many gamble it away.  As soon as the orders came for us to move on, we struck tents-marched through the city and aboard transports and went sailing down the broad Potomac.  The weather was fine, and we had a delightful sail.  We anchored a while in Hampton Roads near Fortress Monroe the place made historic by the ill-fated Cumberland and Congress the bold Monitor and the illustrious Merrimack. While lying there in comparitable safety my thoughts wondered to the 8^th of March when the Merrimack came sailing ore the blue waters of the bay and with one bold dash sent the Cumberland quivering to the bottom with all its living (?) freight engulfing.  What must have been the thoughts of McClellan when he heard the news?  He was getting then his troops aboard transports at Alexandria to make a sudden dash at Richmond by James River when _____ all at once the river is blocked-Fortress Monroe besieged the navy vessels that were to assist him powerless and his own transports liable to meet the fate of the Cumberland.  His military plans frustrated and a great strategic movement foiled and the whole phase of the war changed, and all because of the incomplete destruction of the Merrimack at the burning of the Norfolk Navy Yard. 

The mous is thou art not alone
In proving foresight may be vain
The best laid schemes of mice and men
Aft gang aglee
And leave us naught but pain where most it promises Ill   

At Fortress Monroe, we had orders to move on to Norfolk and then to this place.  Norfolk is about two hours sail from the Fortress.  We found Norfolk to be a deserted city.  The sentinels slowly pacing their beats-the hurried movement of some Officers of the Provost Guard-straggling negroes and a few pale-man and disconsolate women, looking through the windows were all I could see.  At Norfolk we took the cars for this place -we passed through a very monotonous looking country-no hills, nor dales, nor mountains to relieve the view but one vast level.  We arrived at this place at about 11 o'clock at night, amid the cheers of those that had gone before us, We disembarked and lay down upon the "sacred soil" Virginia to sleep for the remainder of the night.  The next morning our encamping ground was marked out and all went to work with a will to clean it off and to put up our tents.  Our camp was soon reported in order and then commenced the business of war: which consisted of roll-calls, drills, parades, reviews, standing guard around camp, doing picket duty at the out posts, reconnaissance, building forts, digging trenches, doing battle, eating "salt horse", and nursing the sick, burying the dead, and writing long letters. 

The first Sunday that we spent here, we took possession of the Episcopalian Church and opened the doors to all who desired to worship the Lord our Chaplin did the praying and preaching and I by special request took charge of the sing. I found a man that could play the organ and soon formed a choir that put Old Hundred, Ortouville and Arlington through in grand style. A church of gaily-dressed Soldiers is rather a grand sight.  Major General Peck and Staff were present. 

We had a grand review the other day Gen. Dix, ten thousand infantry, two thousand cavalry, and three batteries of light artillery, drawn up in battle array is a sight I will not attempt to describe. 

I wrote you a few days ago about our little fight. I will write you soon about the nights here. 

The weather is fine and I am well.
                    Warren