V.a.
	Camp Near Fredricksburgh
		Jan          1863
		     1776  &  1863
	Dear Mother
		with pleasure I
seat myself to write you a few lines
to inform you that I am well
                               not whiskey spirits though
and in good spirits    I have not
recd my Box yet it is in Washington
and they say that is as far as
things come by express but I 
think we can get the quarter
master to get them sent on
Dewitt has one there too I have
bin trying to get him to see the
quartermaster and have him order
    them an I think he can get
them. I suppose you are having
pretty cold weather home now it
 is not cold here we sleep warm
nights in our tents

Mother I shall send in
this letter a Medal which
I have had made I want you to take
it and take good care of it until I come
home will you please do so I think
I shall come home some time and
then we will hang [on?] the big pot and
have a fine old time
	well Mother I have not
got my Box yet Dewitt recd one
yesterday which was packed Christmas
he got a fine lot of dried Apples
a few green ones and some butter & cheese
and a large frosted cake and some
cookies which wer very nice I suppose
my box is in Washington and
I am going to wait a few days to see
if we are going to move they say
we are going to Washington to Winter
and if we do I shall know in a few
days and if we stay here I shall
get the quartermaster to get them forwarded
I think I can get it in that way

    now Mother you must write often
I have ben looking now some time
for a letter but I dont find any now 
I tell you it does me good to get a letter
from home and you must write as
often as you can tell me all about
      the folks of Fentonville and
all the news in general for I
want to hear of every thing
and from every body when I get
a letter tell Sarah she must
write often too for I like to
hear from her and I should like
to have Freddy write also it seems
good to get a few words from him
when you write, it is raining
here now but it is not a very
cold rain. I have bin out cleaning
around our tent which was the first
    duty I have done in over two
  weeks but I begin to feel all
               right again and I am
                   very thankful to 



   think I am an the gain for this
is a hard place to be sick no one to
care for you at all only just to
wait upon you and do just what
they are obliged to do. it is not
   like home but I hope this
misrebal War will soon close so
we can all come home to our friends
write and let me know if you hear
from Edwin I have written to him
but dont get any answer from
it yet I want you also to
     tell me what kind of news
Mr Shaw gets from Will whether
he thinks he will get home or
not I hope he will get his
discharge I have written to him
and expect an answer soon now
                                                       as
Mother do write   often as you can
for the sake of your son I hope
this will find you enjoying good
health Please except
                       this from
Good Bye to all write soon