Camp California January 8, 1862 Virginia

 

Dear Father Sisters and Brother i write these few lines to you hoping to find you in good health as this leaves me at preasent i received a letter on the 29^th and a paper also while i was on picket and a nother on the 3 of this month in regards of about going i only thought so for i did not try for i think we will all be home in a few months and i dont think it would be any use of going for there would be now work the weather here is very cold now we have had some snow we hear some talk of an advance soon and of going on some southern expedition on New Years i was on guard so i could go no where we have got those indiarubber blankets they cost 2$ each we will have to pay for them i dont owe the sutler a cent and we expect to get paid soon i only received one paper from you the clipper while we where on picket we got 3 contrabands a man wife and child and a scouting went out and got 3 pigs and fetched them into camp we was out on picket 4 days 48 hours on and the rest of the time to oursels 4 companies goes out at a time we wont go out again i suppose in 4 weeks again we have had 2 more deaths in the hospital a mans life is thought nothing about no more than a dog there are a great many has colds to hear them coughing at night it would frightened you i have never had a cough nor cold since i come here i can eat well all they give me it is very cold in the mornings there bes a dew upon blankets with the frost as soon as i get paid i shall send it on i like you would send me the Sunday Murcury i only got one paper altogether 

 

write as soon as you receive this for we dont know the minute we are off

 

So no more at preasent but remains yours truly                                       

John Loughran

 

            send me a sheet of paper in the next

SOURCES