Va
	Camp Near Fredricksburg
		     Jan 27th /63

		      Dear Mother
    I hardly know how to 
write to you I recd a letter
from you last evening dated
the 20th stating Fathers Death
I also received one from
Mr Shaw Saturday night
the news was very unexpected
to me. although I have thought
for a long time that he
never would get well but
I thought I should see him
again I when I left Home
   Oh how often I have thought 
of the morning I started for

Detroit how little I thought then
of comeing away without
seeing you and having a long
talk with you and father
but he is gone [mark illegible] whare I
cant see him again but I
hope I shall [so?] spend this
life that I shall meet him
in a land whare thare is
    no War. and no parting
I hope Dear Mother the time
will soon come when I
shall see my Home again and 
I hope I shall find it a Happy 
Home I am Sorry your Health
is so poor I hope you will
soon get well you must
use money enough to
    keep you comfortable no
matter if you use every
cent of my money I
dont care I want you

     to keep yourself comfortable
   my Health is very good at
present I was on Picket
        Sunday [came?] off Monday
          about noon I went
down to the river to see
the rebs we could hear them
talk and laugh they wer
diging Rifle pits along the
river    they are as harmless
as you please you need not
  wory about me Mother
for we have got a good
warm tent and I think 
we shall stay here two or
perhaps three months for
I guess it is going to be 
very [unruly?] so we cant 
move. Gen Burnside has
resigned but I suppose
you will hear all such 
news by the paper before

you will get this you must
excuse me for not filling
this for it is so dark I
cant see to write any more
tell Sarah Dewit is making
a ring for her and I
will send it in the 
next litter I must close
you must write often
and I will Please
exept the love of your
Son  B F. Marsh
	              Good Bye
                                Mother

if you get a Fentonville
paper please send me one

Franklin