Camp Of the Sec. R.I. Reg^t

Frederrisburg Va.

Feb. 6 1863.

                       

Dear Sister.

                                    I had the extreme felicity this morning of receiving a letter from you. It came last night but the mail was not distributed on account of the men all being in bed. There was a lot of postage stamps and a package of sage in it. I have got the pepper you sent me a week ago yet. it has not been disturbed. In your next please send me a chunk of sausage meat and I will go into the sausage business as the meat alone is all thats lacking to hinder me from going in at once Throw in a few skins, and a filler and I will begin right off. 

 

We have been having a taste of winter the past week. Monday was as warm and pleasant as a may morning the next day it was snowing and cold as Greenland, about four inches fell and melted in one day (the next day) Yesterday it snowed again all day but towards night turned to rain and this morning it is all bare ground again, raining like John and quite warm. Day before yesterday I think was the coldest day we have had this winter. We had to keep in our tents all the time most since Monday to keep from freezing. They say a man in the Seventh R.I. froze to death that night. He was sick and I suppose that did not help towards keeping him warm. I saw a regiment of another division moving yesterday morning. I dont know whether they were going on picket or where the snow was falling and the cold was growing no warmer very fast. they looked some as I have seen Brighton / cattle going along the road all covered with snow. I should have hated to a wanted to gone on a march then. We had quite a treat yesterday in the shape of soft bread, a loaf to a man. It tasted Camp Brightwood fashion. I got a pound of butter from the sutler to go with it. (only fifty cents a pound, cheap aint it) and it was not long before I had put mine out of sight (twenty two ounce loaf) I couldnt eat any more then because my appetite is rather poor and some how or other I lost what little I had by the time I finished one loaf. I suppose in a few days we shall have to try picketing again on the river. I hope the muskrats will not make any noise this time to scare the thirty seventh.

 

I am afraid it will be rather unpleasant down there now for fire wood is very scarce it was when we was there before and I guess by this time it is not much plentier.

 

The rebels are no better off than we. all the wood that there is is along on the steep bank / of the river so each side will be within pistol shot of the other. The woods around here are getting cut away so much that we can see the steeples of Fredericksburg and the hills in the rear of the city, the battlefield where so many of our men were killed. I should like to know what the matter is that the Express will not take any more boxes for this army a great many of the men are expecting boxes from home but it seems they will have to wait a while. I guess I can get stockings enough but these government affairs dont last long. "faint right away", as Sol P[?] says. Who is it that has bought out Clark Grogens or Pa? I cant really make out which by your letter. It seems to me that your folks around South Milford or down over the river are getting rather given to the infantry branch of the service Well there will have to be something done before long if this war continues, or they cant raise any more infantry to keep up the war. I have got an old ripper of a cold now owing I suppose to the changeableness of the weather this week and also to the fire place in the tent I took a dose of composition last night to go to bed on I shall have to step now and begin a letter to Ans. L C Cook. What Brigade and Division should you put on the box if you send one I dont know which what general will command now.

 

The regt is all you need to put on anything Washington D.C.

 

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I dont belong to Burnsides Army now. if the Express will send to any other army sock a box along to Old Jo Hooker's Army.

 

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Orderly Greene is promoted to a Second Lieut. I am glad to see such men as he promoted he was a better orderly than Jo can be any way. I got a letter from Ham Sunday with a picture of Cora.

 

You need not be surprised to see Jo Wood appear to you one of these days. if he can get his papers signed I believe he cuts out Clark Brown. I thought Brown was ahead but it seems Jo is first Jo is our orderly now.

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