Washington   Jan. 3rd    1863
		Dear Mother
the present finds me well and I
take my pen to inform you of the
reception of your two welcome
letters of the 21 & 30 I was glad
to hear from home but was sorry
to hear that your health was so poor
and hope you will be better than
by the time this reaches you
you need not fear for Frank
for his Regt was not engaged
in the battle but [little?]

and was not cut up much
you said in your letter of the
[21?] that Mr [Garner?] was to
start the next day he has not
got here yet I guess he did
not start I am glad you are
going to send me the dried fruits
etc etc not for the worth of them
			  thinking
alone but it shows that you thing
of me so far away from home the
catsup will be first rate
on the salt pork and the
currants will come first rate
for same and I can get plenty
of sugar of the Commisare
H.Whalen and you may tell
his folks that hs is well. [but?]
tell Mr Paynes folks that
                                               ly
he is well but has been slight^
sick with a cold the same
as I have. I have not been on
guard since I left Camp [illegible in original]

only once and then I did not
stand my time out on account
of my cold so I have done first
rate as I have not suffered much
from the cold tonight I reported
myself fit for duty to the
    Oorderly and tomorrow will be
  on horse guard we do not have
				ted
much to do now. I was vaccina^
today for the small pox I guess
we will stay here a long time
for we are making stables for
the horses the weather is real nice
and warm but the nights are
rather cold tell Mrs Thatcher
that [Edgar?] is well we
go to prayermeetings occasionally
therer was a watchmeeting in
one of the tents of Co. M. the
Captain of which is a preacher
and most of the men are Met-
hodists I endeavor to live 

the life of a Christian I shall
put my trust in god and he
will bring me out of my troubles
and bring me safe home gain
I am glad Father is no worse 
and I hope he will be soon well
I see men from the 8th Reg
     often
very ^ men some of whome know
    Frank give my respects to 
all enquiring friends I cannot
write more at present but will
write more tomorrow, and must
write to Sarah and Fredie
so good night
    Sunday [several words illegible in original] today finds
me well and I will try and finish
my letter to you and write a little 
   to Sarah and Fred no more at
present but write soon and often
	from your son Augustus Holmes
Hannah J. Holmes