Camp California

near Alexandria

Virginia

Dec. 25.1861

 

Dear Father Sisters and Brother i write these few lines to you hoping to find you in good health as this leaves me at present i sent a letter last Friday and got no answer yet nor i received no papers yet from you We are going on picket to morrow morning at 9 oclock and stay for 4 days the whole Regiment is going there will be a few to mind the tents till we come back which will on Sunday next it is getting cold here now to day was no different from any other day except we had no drill the Captian gave each man a cup / of lager i seen John Sullivan to day and had a talk with him also Sweeny he told me Father was working in Mulvihill i seen a great many that i knew i seen Thomas Mackin the carpenter he is in the 88 there is a great many going home unfit for duty and i could go to if i liked but i would be ashamed and receive no bounty we have to go about 6 miles on picket to relieve the 53 of N.Y it is getting bloody cold here in the mornings we hear nothing about winter quarters yet we had rain on last Sunday night and all day monday and mud to your knees this is the land of mud

 

so no more at preasent but remains yours truly

John Loughran

 

PS. Send me a couple of stamps 

 

write as soon as you receive this and send me some papers you need not care about sending me the price of the cap for i can wait till pay day that is if you like

SOURCES