Bonnet Carrie Sea
                                            Jany 27th 1864
Dear Sister
     I received your letter of
Jany 5th yesterday and it came
very welcome I am sorry that Sol
has enlisted for I don't believe that
he will like the army I wish that
he had went to New York and
enlisted in our Regmt I am now
so I could have helped him some
our Regmt has been taken from
the field and are now guarding
the Missippi River it is quite a
rest for us after being in the
field so long. I would try and
get a furlow but it is so far
to come and it would cost me
now about three Hundred Dollars
to come their and back
it seems that Bills folk has their

trials all come at once . the
next letter you write let me know
if Bills folks live at Port Byron yet
my last letter I sent you their
was a likeness in it for Mamma
but she must have gone before you
got it. I received a commission
as first Lieut the last mail and
will go to New Orleans in a few days
to get mustered I have only been
a 2d Lieut about two months if
they keep coming as fast as this
I will be a Brigadier by the ffourth
of July we have a very Pleasant
place here for a camp and it
is usualy healthy and is as warm
here now as the middle of June
we have had but two nights that
it froze ice the men are setting
round in their shirt sleaves and
looking for shady places. new years
the men were playing Ball in

their shirt sleeves I have not
seen a man with an over coat on
this winter but two days and then
it was raining. write and let me
know where [ded?] is and how all
the folks are give my respects to
Mrs Vantyle and Mrs Herman and
all enquiring friends give my Love
to the children and tell them I
will send them some present
as soon as I can get to New Orleans
for there is nothing here at this
place it is dinner time
and I will have to close
                From your Brother
                                 Jim
                                  to
                                Kate

[written sideways]
P.S. Write soon and direct your Letters
                                Lieut Jas Hardenbergh
                            Co. C. 133d Regt N.Y.V.
                                     New Orleans
                                            or
                                      Elsewhere