This is from your Father in Carver Barracks Maredan Hill

Tho^s H Mason

 

            Dear children permit me to write to you after a long time I ment to have writen to you before but my duty has been put upon me that I have not had time to write or aney thing els so you must not find aney fault with me, for I started from Ellenvile on monday noon and got in to Washington on tuseday noon and as soon as I got on the ground my tent mates told me that I was reported absent with [?] so I went before the Magor and reported myself and so ended the matter and then I was orderd to put on my napsack for general inspection not having eney sleep the night before so you must know how I felt after driling until near dark I then went to my tent and went to sleep and slep soundley the next morning for my comfort I was put / on as sergant of the gard and was up all night again and a verey cold windy night it was. all that day and night I thougt of home it being New Years We are now in barracks one building for a Company and that building is devied into five parts one for the captain three for privets and one for the comacarey of the Company and store room I have charge of one of the rooms a bout thirty six in my room and wild devils thay are, but still I conquer them I have seen Thomas in Ellenville He had just returnd from the west and he looked verey poor in flesh he said he had been sick with the western fever I want you to let me know if has been up to see you and what he doing and what he doing and if he as got better your Uncal George as been sick with rumatism so that could not walk without krutches 

 

He is now geting better I went Washington the other day to make to get some stuf to rub himself with and I belive I have helped him with it so that he walks with a cane he want to get a ferlow to come home but wheather he will one or not I do not, for thay do not grant anney more furlows our Captain is a coming to recuet for the Regment We recived our pay yesterday and I send twenty dollers in a check ten dollers I want you to give to Euphemia and five to Alice and the other wheare its most neaded I had intended to have sent thirty dollers but it cost me over twenty five dollers coming home But never mind I came home and ondly owe five dollers I shall write to all the children if I can get time / and if I donot you must give my love to them all I have got news hear that Eliza marred and if that is true tell her that she mite writen to me and let have known sumthing about it I have herd that she was to your Uncal George Hous on a visit tell her if that is so she must write to me and tel me what she is about and and what she intends to do Tell her I wish her mutch joy I understand that it was on New Years day the verey that I was on gard and the wind blew so hard and dust and sand flew in that such fors that it made my eyes for three or four day but I have over it I must conclude for the Taps are beating and lights must be blown out you must no folt with the writing and the mistakes for this is a hard place to write wheare the are snoring and singing

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