Camp [illegible, word covered by adhesive from envelope] Fredricksburgh, Va
		Dec 22 1862

	Dear Mother I recd another
of your welcome letters last evening
as we wer sitting around our
nice little fire in our snug
little tent oh Mother I wish you
could have seen us when we wer
building our house the other day
we took pine poles and built
a little pen bigenough for five
men I took our tents for a roof
and a piece at each end then we
[banked?] it all up tight and
built a nice fireplace of brick
and the chimney of pine poles 
and our tent is as warm as you
please we can get good oak wood about
one mile from  here and we have
one team to draw for each company
which keeps us in good wood

[written in pencil underneath] [acc. # 1662]

your letter was dated Dec 14th
stating that you wer going to send
my box the next day I am
very glad you did not pay the
express charges, when I first heard
you wer going to send it I was
afraid you would pay the charges
then it would not come but
if the charges are not payed they
are very sure to come. Oh I am 
so glad you thought of the Catsup
and tommattows. they will be so
nice also the onions which will
be good for my cold but it is
getting better now as for the blan
ket I have written to you not
to send it but I am glad it
is comeing for they say we are
going into winter Quarters soon
and if we do have to march
the boys will carry one for me
it is warm and pleasant out doors
here today tell Sarah & Freddy I

think who poped the corn and
cracked the nuts when I get them
as for that one dollar you sent
me some time ago I have never
recd it but I get your letters
regular now I found the two dollars
you sent in that letter which
makes me $12 twelve dollars now
I have borrowed five of Will Cale
and a little of Dewit I guess I have
got enough to last me until pay
day and more too. I wish I was
thare to help you eat some of the
pig and spend Christmas and
New Years with you but it cant
be and so I will be content whare
I am
	now about the rent of
the old house cant you get it of
Beach and why if not you had
better get Mr Smith to fix the
thing for you get every sent of
the rent or kick her into the [wood?]

dont be abused by her by any means 
tell Father when you write to him
again I often think of him and
wish I could see him and see
laugh and shake his sides as he
used to [land?—misspelling of “long”?] ago and I hope
we shall all be spared to meet
at home together again whare
we can enjoy ourselves one more
and now Mother I must say one
word apiece to Sarah & Freddy
Oh I will close by thanking you
for your kindness from your
loving son B.F. Marsh) H P Holmes
Well, Sarah I feel as if I 
could not seal another letter
without saying a few words to you
be a good girl be kind to Mother and 
stay at home and help her all you 
can and you will never be sorry for it
remember you are a young lady now
and must behave as such and then you will be
loved by all I will write to you soon good Bye
Freddy I will write you a good letter soon but
I must thank you for thinking of the brother [illegible] 
and [put corn?] and [illegible] you good Bye B.F. Marsh