Camp Near Falmouth Va

Dec 25^th 1862 

 

Dear Mother

                        I have just finished my Christmas dinner I had roast beef, potatoes, and gravy, and pudding. The pudding was made by boiling hard bread in sugar and water. It is the best meal I have had for a long time. You seem to think that I suffer from the cold by your letter. It has been very cold here some days but I have not slept cold one night and I do not / wear three flanel shirts either

 

I would like to have you see my house. You might laugh at it but it is very comfortable. I have a good little fireplace and live very contented. some of the men have good log houses. I do not think we will leave here very soon and as soon as the express gets regulated I shall want a box. I will have six months pay due me the 1^st of January I have been made an artificer to date from the first of December so now I shall have seventeen dollars a month if the Government does not fail. Crossley did not get promoted though I do not see why. I was hoping we would go to Washington to stop this winter so that I might / possibly get a furlough of ten days and go home, but it is most impossible to get away from here. it does not seem long since I came away from home but it is over a year I suppose

Has Martha grown any?

 

I expect the people North are begining to realize that there is really a war. I have seen nothing else but soldiers for so long that a citizen would look strange. It seems to me as if this war would have to be settled someway before long

 

I do not think of any thing more in particular to write. I must go and cut some wood to burn tonight My bunky is going to be on guard and I shall be alone

 

good bye

Jerome

 

I wish you a merry Christmas

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