U.S. Genl Hospital
		   Annapolis  Md
		        Jan 15th 1863

Dear Sister in the west
		I have a fiew
Spare moments this after noon
and I thought I would
improve the time in writing
to you. I received your kind
letter and was glad to hear
from you. I am well at pres
and I hope that these
fiew lines will find you
all in the Same State of
health. I received a letter
from [Aby.?] to day he Says
that he is almost well
he hant gon to Camp yet
how I wish that he was

[Written sidewise on top of page]

P.S. Excuse all [piece of letter missing]
    for thare is a [piece of letter missing]
    meny. I almost [piece of letter missing]
   to tell you that [piece of letter missing]
 Jake Meeker & Unkle
[illegible in original] have bin to
washington but I
Supose that if they
had wanted to see
me they would come
hear but they have
	gon home and
	I dont care
	if they had
	wanted to 
	See me they 
	would have
	come write soon
	and you will
	Obligue your
	Brother and
	well wisher John
	Sarah [illegible in original]

Home with his Mother. you [piece of letter missing]
tell how I felt when I [heard?]
that he had Enlisted for I
thought that he [auto?] Stade
at home with his Old mother
when I Enlisted he Sed that
he wouldent Enlist and So I
went off in good Spirits. I
got a letter to day from Coon
he is keeping Grosery and he
Says that he is [duing?] very
well the folks in [Lodi?] is
all well. as far as he knowd
I receive a letter from Some
one [of?] my Old friends almost
evry day. and I tell you it
dos me good to get letters
from my Old Friends it brings
my mind to the plesent times
that are past and gon never
more to return and how little
I uste to apriciate those times
when I was at home. but
thare is no use of thinking
about the past but look

[page torn] bright day sin the future
I came hear at Annapolis
on the 25th of September with
Coon. and he went home
            ent
and I thought that I could^
do eny better than to Stay
hear this winter. the weather
is very warm and pleasent
and it looks like Spring
to me I hant hurd from
my Regiment in a long time
I am the only boy hear
            Reg
now that belongs to the 126 ^
N.Y. I think that I will Stay
hear all winter my Captain
has gon back to the Reg.t
but he went on Crutches
I think that he wont do
mutch a chasen the Rebs.
it tis jest four months to
day Sence the Surrender of
Harpers Fery. what a Shame
that was when it could 
have bin held as well
as not if we had had

A diferent commander I [think?]
that Col. Miles was [nothing?]
more or less than a [Trator?]
thare is no news from the
army of the Potomack today
I hope that this Rebellion
will be poot down before
the close of 1863 but it
dont look mutch like it
now dos the war make
hard times in the west
or dont you feel it [illegible in original]
how was the crops this
last year did they come
in good and how dos Billy make it [Run?]
write me a good long
[letter?] and tell me all 
the news will you. I 
Enjoy my self very
well hear and make my
Self contented as I can
dont you think that is the
way I cant write eny more 
at this time write Soon and
Give my love to Aaron. & the 
Children. and to your Self also
I will close hoping to hear
from you Soon. Yours [illegible in original] John