Camp on Meridian Hill
      Near Washington Feb 6th /[63?]

			Dear Mother
I recieved your welcome letter
of the 29 and was glad to hear
from home again. your letter found
me well and doing well it
is raining now and has been raining
all night the weather has been
Cool for Several days and has
been muddy and part of the time
it has been frozen up we have
ben just come in from water
I was detailed for washing dishes
yesterday and day before. it is quite
a job to wash all of the dishes
for one company. I recieved a letter
from Edwin yesterday containing
a letter from Mr MCracken
also one from Mrs. Severance

with the news of my our
    Fathers Death in my letter
I sent him the letter that I
got from him but he has not
got it yet he expected his pay
soon then he would send you
some money I expect to get some
money soon too then I will
send you some too, I we drew,
new. clothes the other day also our 
revolvers which are splendid ones
and the Reifles are in the
Captains tent the Captain and
Lieut Goslin also Leieut Moore
are sick and Lieut Joslin
has resigned and is going home
soon there are a number of
our men that are sick and
expect to get thier discharge
soon I think there is no
difficulty about your discharge
getting my discharge I like
soldiering first rate but I

with the news of my our
    Fathers Death in my letter
I sent him the letter that I
got from him but he has not
got it yet he expected his pay
soon then he would send you
some money I expect to get some
money soon too then I will
send you some too, I we drew,
new. clothes the other day also our 
revolvers which are splendid ones
and the Reifles are in the
Captains tent the Captain and
Lieut Goslin also Leieut Moore
are sick and Lieut Joslin
has resigned and is going home
soon there are a number of
our men that are sick and
expect to get thier discharge
soon I think there is no
difficulty about your discharge
getting my discharge I like
soldiering first rate but I

    and he is as well
    drilled as his master
and can jump a ditch to
perfection. I hope you are having
good times at school and you
must try and learn as much 
as [can?] but I must stop for
this time so good bye for this
time but write soon from 
your Dear Brother
	Mr Augustus Holmes

Mr Frederick Holmes esq
    Fentonville  Mich