Sarah Marsh
			    Jan 18” 1863

	Fentonville  January the 18th /63

	Dear Brother
		                   Well now Frank
about the Sleigh ride a Christmas
I come [cut?] Sleigh ride Shorte
about them times for the copperheads
as you call them are very few and
all the cowerds have all Skddadled
for Cannada well now tell th
truth about it Frank I have not
had a chance to go a Sleigh
rideing since you left nor buggy
riding but [well?] and then I was
not at home about [crossed out] then but
that time and our foulke could
not finde me [knew?] [illegible] in [Fenton?]
now I did not supose that [your?]
big Sister could ride so that they
could not finde her and she
could look at them all the

time [well?] now I will tell you who
it was and what [stile?] he came
in. Well the [said?] person was
[Romson?], Wyckoff and he came hear at
Mrs Holmes for Miss Sarah Marsh to
go buggy riding with him he came &
with that splendid one horse wagon
of Mr [Hellegs?] and a splendid horse
you could count his ribs as far as
you could see and one of the niceist
[two words illegible] that I think that I ever
saw I think that they must have
used it on the bed so long as they 
could for [fear?] of [Sailing?] it and this
and then they take it for a horse
blanket and that was the [illegible]
that he came her Miss Marsh to
take a ride but she was not at
[home?] & doe not think that I shall
                       such
have a nother          chance to go
riding as [four words illegible] and so 
this said fellow that Alvah [pleads?]
a [bent?] in his letter will take me

and a bout the Christmas dinner I
had a very good dinner & took dinner
at Mrs. [Ferry?] and Mother did not
make any [illegible] dinner that
ring that you sent me is just
the fit you could not have
made it any bet ter better if
you had had the measure of
my finger it is cracke in the
and one side wer it brake when
for sent it Alvah is getting 
off some great  [illegible] that [their?]
is [new?] truth [in?] and sure [time?]
you shall hear all a bout it
and the truth but if I did not
have just as good company as
he did you may call me [Joe Rogers?]
his name was [Green?] he is a very
smart fellow and [has?] thought a
great deal of [illegible] in this place
I tell Alvah if he gits as smart
a woman [illegible] as he is
[illegible] I shall be pleased with my
[two words illegible] 

[thare?] is a good way of the [boy?] of the [illegible]
that is [two words illegible] new they have
reenlisted and are a going to Stay three
years longer for the sake of [illegible]
at home three months but I hope
that when you three years is up you
will come home I wish you was
home hear now [illegible] is the
same old [illegible] that he ever
was at [illegible] at [illegible] you will think
for you know that [illegible] have not
                                          is
got any such a sister as he    [illegible]
to make out Well Frank I think
that [this is?] & enough nonsense in
this letter So I will close
give my love to all the boys that
I know write to me as soon as you
get this for I like to get a letter
from you for you are the [illegible]
Brother that I have that thinks
enough of me to write to me
and as able as you will write
to me I will write [Be sure?]/ write
and tell me if you have heard from
[illegible] I have not heard [three words illegible]
[illegible] I have writers to [two words illegible]
since she wrote to me [three words illegible]
all the [illegible] is well I will be [three(?) words illegible]
[illegible] a Good Night this from your Sister [2 words illegible]