Deare Child I write to you to let you know that I recived your letter on the 9^th of April and verey glad to heare from you and yours I am now in quarters about three miles east of New Port news and we have it verey wet and cold it has rained three days right on and this morning it has snowed and rained together and we have it verrey hard now sleeping on the cold ground in damp blankets some with tents and some without I with two other sergt have a tent but no fire But it is verrey cold and damp but I do not mind it I am well and hartey and donot grumble about it but theare is a grate maney of them that wish the war to the Devil I want you to tell Henery that if will stay wheare he is he may stay but he must be a good boy and go to school as mutch as he can. you must write to me what desposion you make of the money I sent to you witch was twenty five dollers I want you to make the best use of it you can and donot let Samuel and Isabel lack for aney thing if it uses it all up the next pay day is the third of May and I think we shall recive it in a few day after that date so I think that if the wants or needs close or aney thing els we had orders to march yesterday and before night it was countermand and we do not know how soon we shall move to the field of battle and who will live to tell / To tell the tale after the battle no one knows but if live thrue the battle I will write to you as soon as I can after it I am segt of the gard to day and canont write to you mutch my warrent that I sent you you must take good ceare of it for if I fall in the field of battle it will be of use to you children that is in geting my back pay and in geting the hundord dollers bounty But you must not give yourself aney uneasines about me as I am as likley to live thrugh as any of them I must conclude with my love to you all and may the blessing of god be with you is the sincear wish of your Father Tho^s. H. Mason Sergt

                                               

I C^o 56 Reg N.Y.S.V.

           

Camp Gorden New Port News April 10^th 1862

 

PS        you speake about Emit he is well and was on picket gard yesterday and came in this morning on picket theare is no tents thay take the beare ground for it with theare ruber blanket and woolen one your Uncel George is not verey well to day but he is about I am a geting verey cold and must stop you write to your father as often as you can pray for your Father that the gods of battle will watch over him and may god watch over you all is the wish of your Father T. H. M. Segt

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