Camp Sedgwick         

Near Brandy Station Va.

Dec 29. 1863.

                       

Dear Sister,

               I was not able to write last Sunday on account of being off on a bust again. Christmas morning a detail of thirty men was made to go out on picket between the Hazle river and Rappahannock, in the rear of the army. A place we have never had to picket until now. I think the reason of our being sent there to do picket duty (at the same time doing it at the front) was on account of so many men being absent from the first and second divisions they are both smaller than the third when they are all present for duty there are now considerable many away on furlough (reenisted men) thirty five days / We sent from this division two hundred and seventy men, a detail being made from every regiment. Christmas day was a very pleasant one and we enjoyed ourselves very well. the next day was pleasant also, but Sunday morning it began to rain and we couldnt enjoy ourselves so well without going to considerable pains to do so, but then we didnt borrow any trouble. while we could keep our fire going we could keep comfortable and there was no end to wood. we built bush huts of pine boughs much as thirty feet across with rousing fires in the centre it looked like a piece of woods full of coal pits. When it began to rain we buttoned four pieces of tent together stretched them over rafters in under the pines and let her rip, but it did not do much good for where the pine leaves rested on the tent the rain would come right through we made it answer however through the / day thinking at night it would clear off, but it didnt so at ten oclock in the evening we went to work and built a regular tent and all four of us piled in and slept till morning. I waked up in the night several times and found my feet out doors in a puddle of water so I had to draw them up to my chin and go to sleep again. slept warm too. We were in reserve (the Second Brigade) the three days and had no duty to do to speak of. Monday towards night we got back to camp pretty well soaked. This is the first picketing I have been on since the fifteenth of September a good long stretch aint it. The mud is getting pretty deep it cleared away this morning warm and pleasant. I would like to see a little frost just to harden the ground

 

The subject of reenlisting is creating more excitement or attention than I thought it ever would. there has over a hundred singed signed (I guess I wrote it / the nearest right where its crossed) already they will leave for R.I. shortly (35 days)

 

No Sir I dont sleep cold on my corduroy. the old gal and I sleep about as close as peas in the pod when the slingers come. we have two woolen blankets two pieces of tent cloth two overcoats and a rubber blanket that we can bring into requisition when necessary enough covering for most any one. Yes the case knife has arrived I have taken a good deal of pleasure in eating with it. I wish there was some of grannys victuals to eat with it.

 

                                                                       

[side margin: tell her I thank her very much]

 

 Wont she miss it? You wrote a good deal of news in your last letter I was surprised to hear David Mellon and N Howe was both dead. St[?] I did not know. I want to know whose birthday last Wednesday was, that other Wednesday was Jesse Steere's, same as mine. 20 years old, is he the chap you mean. I dreamed of shaking hands with Mr. Cook and Mrs. Cook the other night. had just got home when I was going down Gil Cooks hill thought they were out looking that way for me

 

We are living high every day now mutton soup today twant

 

[upside down through written]

 

so good as beef soup Loomis shot a sheep the other day way out beyond the picket line. we have got it now under the bed thats where we keep all our commissary stores. All furloughs except to soldiers reenlisting are stopped for the present. I believe I have written all there is worth putting down. Give my respects to all

 

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