Camp near Kearnstown Va Dec 9^th/64

 

Dear Father & Mother

                        As I have just received a letter from you and was so glad to receive it I will endever to improve my first opportunity to answer it you spoke about how anxious you was to get a letter from me before you received my last but I dont believe you was more anxious than I was to get one from you for I had watched the mail for some time and had loof looked all through the Regt whare I thought there was any chance of one being for I had been transfered into Co C or been put there by consoledating the Regt and had forgot to tell you to direct it to that Co so I did not know but there might be one thar here some whare but I had got sick of looking / and when I got the letter this morning it seemed like something new.

 

Father you spoke about youre taxes that you did not know whare you should get the money to pay them for they were so high but I have no money at present not even one cent about as short as I generaly get down here and dont know when we will get any but we have heard such a report as that we were going to be paid off by the 15^th of this month but dont know for certain and even if we should it would be most to slow to help you to pay your taxes. Now Ephriam says that you may go to Sarah Ann and get that $100.⁰⁰⁰ doll $100.⁰⁰⁰ dolls town bond of his that is payable this coming January and pay your taxes out of it and the rest of it let William have to pay his for he says he does not expect to get paid off this time as he has been in the 25 NY and has just come here so he wants I should let him have some of my money when / I get my pay. so I will let him have it and that will accomodate all around so when I let him have it I will write and tell you the amount and you can give Sarah Ann a receit or note just as he sees fit, and I think that would be the best way.

 

Mother you wanted I should tell you what the news was here I dont know of any thing of any great importance more than what probily Ira has writen for he said he wrote to you yesterday the boys here are all well and appear to be enjoying them selves very well for such cold weather as we are a having yesterday and to day. you know it makes most any one feel cross such time you wanted to know if Ira had been homesick any now to tell my opinion about it I should say that I did not think he had he and I have had a good many good old chats together since he came here and you may guess whether it was interesting to me to get such direct news from home or not 

 

we have not heard any thing from Daniel Otis since the day he was captured.

 

Mother Ira has got a very good place whare he is now he is in the Pioneer Corps he does not have to stand any Picket at all his work that he has to do is done mostely in the day time so that he has his tent to stay in knights unless and he does not have to be in near so many fights as the rest of the Regt does he and and Olvin is both thare together. they were detat detailed from their Cos for that purpose they do not have to carry any carbines only cary revolvers and each one either carries an ax or a shuvell and their duty is to use them when required to.

 

I let Ira read the letter and he said he just wrote to you yesterday and he did not want to write to you so quick again but he wanted I should tell you if you sent us a box to have Aunt Patient Otis knit a pair of gloves and send them and send him one pair of socks and I would like to have you send me a pair of gloves and one pair of socks I have got three pair of socks and I think if I have one pair more that will do me.

 

Eph is here now in this Regt he got here the other day and says he is a going to stay here, he has just wrote to Sarah ann to have her send him some stuff when you send yours but I cant think of much more to write at present so good bye write soon and

 

oblige your son

Wallace

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