Camp Stoneman        

Giesboro, D.C.

Jan. 29. /65.

           

Dear Sister.

                        Your ever welcome letter of the 22^nd reached me day before yesterday much to my joy and pleasure.

 

            It found me doing guard duty in our new camp into which we moved the day before from Cliffburn. We are now directly opposite Alexandria on the Maryland side of the Potomac upon a point of land formed by the Potomac and a stream known as the Eastern Branch which runs into the Potomac between us and Washington. So you see we are separated from both / cities by two streams of water of pretty respectable size, the East Branch being a quarter of a mile in width, though at the present time it is frozen over solid as well as the Potomac. We have had some pretty cool weather since last Saturday to freeze these two rivers as you may believe and I have received almost the full benefit of it all. A week ago last night I was on guard, on again Monday, again on Wednesday, and Friday again. Four days and nights in one week and no sleep at all hardly. I am in hopes I shall not be detailed again before day before after tomorrow but there is not much calculation that can be made in regard to what we are to do. We have first rate barracks here with two hundred men in one room, no bunks have to sleep on the floor, but when there is a chance to sleep we dont think / of that Gen. Thomas Army or a part of it rather is here with us and more keep coming most all the time about twelve hundred came day before yesterday and there has been more than that come in today I think they are going to rejoin Sherman after getting clothed up here as they are pretty destitute in the clothing line, their toes sticking out of there shoes pants all in rags and altogether in too bad shape to stand such weather as we have had the past week.

 

The money that I have sent home may as well be put into the Three year Seven and three tenths per cent interest bearing bonds convertible at maturity into U.S. 5-20. bonds or if Pa thinks better do with it as he thinks best. I have had half a mind to take a few shares in some of the oil companies that are being organized here and in Baltimore. What should you think of such a speculation? 

 

I have not felt anything of my scarlet fever since I wrote last. that nights sleep put me all to rights again I am well hearty as ever if I am up nights so much and I am afraid I shall gain the reputation I enjoyed along with Jo. Wood. of being next to the biggest eater in the co. though I have heard nothing about it so far. I am a good mind to send you a picture of my chum McKenzie is his name a pretty good fellow I think by all appearances here is another I will send you Theo. Ayers. I wanted to go in with but when we came here he was put into one division and I'm in another so that knocked all our calculations into shoe strings (do you want a dozen). I shall not let you keep them only to look at them as when I send for them you must send them to me again. Has your school been keeping this week or has it closed for good My ink that I brought from home collapsed on the march here the other day so today when / I went after to write a line I found it in the bottom of my haversack. the cork had come out and the had followed as a matter of course, so now I have to borrow until I can get some more. About the apple sass. send on the apples and earthen pot and I will fill it again. I have not seen much of any since leaving Cook's about four weeks ago and may not till I get there again. The shirt I wore from home I did not throw away but then I might as well as far as it benefited me for I threw it out to a woman to wash and thats the last I have seen of the woman or the shirt maybe she is wearing it a while before bringing it back to see if it is a good one. When did this happen to Orrin was it lately or was it last Thanksgiving. I knew of he and Ans getting a little / then. they had been to Medway then to a dance

 

Affairs about home I do not know hardly what to say to it. It's hard telling in what shape I shall get out of this years campaign When I was at home I told Ma if she would have a maid this summer I would pay for one and I will agree to it now if she will have one I mean one that would be of some help and not be of more trouble than good. let her know what I will do and let me know what they think of doing some time when you write and we may come to some agreement I would like to have you keep this kinder private and not let any one know of my oil speculation and let me know what you think of it, though I know well enough what you would say without your saying anything at all. I guess I wont write any more to night as my ideas dont seem to flow any to easy. Is it best to send a William in this I will see in the morning Yours Truly. Cook.

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