Camp Russell Va
	      February 2nd /65

     Dear Nell,
	          You have not
written me since I left home
at least. I judge so. as I have
received. no letter yet. I wrote
you one night last week. but
feeling as though there were
some few things I wanted
to say I have seized my
pen to scratch them off
     I dont Know exactly where
to begin but will rattle away
and let them come as they
will. I think it was Friday
(or was it Saturday?) ere that
I wrote you. At any rate
since Monday we have had
very warm spring like


weather. and we are now
up to our eyes in mud.
  Very Agreeable I assure you
     I got so demoralized while
at home that I could not take
hold of business for several
days and even now I take
but little heart in the work.
Dont think that I am home 
sick. or regret that I came
home. for such an inference
would be far from right
I never felt more contented
in my whole experience as
a soldier than I do at the
present time and would
risk another such trip to
morrow if the chance were 
offered me.
     We drill a little every
day. usually in the fore 
noon. Sit in our tents the


     rest of the time and
     stow away our rations
in our “bread baskets” to
Keep them from spoiling
     “Hard Tack and Sow Belly”
taste better than ever. yet if
I had a plate of Mothers
warm biscuit. and butter
and some of Mrs Jarvis Maple
syrup I think I could stow
away a peck or more altho
tis scarcely an hour since
I ate a loaf of bread a
pound of hard tack and a
pint of currant sauce..
    I have nt got much of
an appetite. But while
we are speaking about “wittle”
and the like just let me
whisper in your ear. that
if you want to help the
“suffering soldier” very bad
there is a couple of em


about as big as Billy
Graham and myself that
would'n't object to releiving
some of those “well to do” people
at home of some of their “wittles
    Im sorry that I did not
Know while at home that
I could have things sent by
express to Winchester. then I
could have saved you any
trouble this will make you
But if it will be too much
trouble to you. dont send any
thing now. I want you to
charge all expenses to my
account.. A Box or bundle
addressed to me. at the Co. and
Regt 1st Brig. 1st Cav. Div. Army
of the Shenandoah. will be
brought right to our camp
costing me no trouble 
whatever. I've only one special
request to make. that is I
want some tea. Dont send
any pies, cakes, etc. as every
box is opened before reaching
here and searched for liquors
and other contraband articles


     Such things are not
contraband. but are very
convenient to take as Custom
House duties.. Butter, should
you choose to send any, should
be put up in a can or a
part of that might easily 
be taken as toll..
     Gen Sheridan notwith
standing the numerous re
ports concerning him still
remains with us. Yesterday
he reviewed our whole Cavalry
Corps near Winchester..
     It must have been a 
splendid sight to the spec
tators of whom there was a
great number. with a
“right Smart” sprinKling
of ladies.

     Such things are not
contraband. but are very
convenient to take as Custom
House duties.. Butter, should
you choose to send any, should
be put up in a can or a
part of that might easily 
be taken as toll..
     Gen Sheridan notwith
standing the numerous re
ports concerning him still
remains with us. Yesterday
he reviewed our whole Cavalry
Corps near Winchester..
     It must have been a 
splendid sight to the spec
tators of whom there was a
great number. with a
“right Smart” sprinKling
of ladies.

     Nell. I'm counting
the days between this and
Oct 13th and. made a rough
estimate (or commenced to)
of my labors. for the coming
eight months and ten days.
   I figured it down to 250 
days I had to serve U.S. yet
and found that I had just
230 lbs of Hard Tack to eat.
which so appalled me that
it KnocKed all the mathemat
ics out of my head and I
stopped.    I saw Sim Step
hens the other day and gave 
him the box his mother sent
him. but have had no chance
to see Allison Edwards yet.
     We have had some sleighing
until day before yesterday
but it has all “slid off” now
   Sleighriding was all the

     Nell. I'm counting
the days between this and
Oct 13th and. made a rough
estimate (or commenced to)
of my labors. for the coming
eight months and ten days.
   I figured it down to 250 
days I had to serve U.S. yet
and found that I had just
230 lbs of Hard Tack to eat.
which so appalled me that
it KnocKed all the mathemat
ics out of my head and I
stopped.    I saw Sim Step
hens the other day and gave 
him the box his mother sent
him. but have had no chance
to see Allison Edwards yet.
     We have had some sleighing
until day before yesterday
but it has all “slid off” now
   Sleighriding was all the