Camp Wigfall Jan 13

 

Don't let any one read this, or dont    

read it aloud.                                      

A.R.E.       

                 

My Dearest Mother

               Your letter by Preston Hampton reached me yesterday, and I must say it was very welcome for two reasons, first, because it was from you, and because it was the first I have gotten in a week or ten days. I had made up my mind not to write another letter, untill I got one, and as yours came yesterday evening, I write to day. I am very sorry that I did not write sooner because I consider it a duty to you, whether you reply to my letters, or not, but to my sisters I do not consider it / a duty, when I do not get letters from them. I don't think they should expect a reply to each of their letters, and on the other hand I think I have the right to expect two or three for each of mine. I think from the family, I ought to get one every other day, making four letters a week, and I never get more than two, and sometimes not that. I expect I have already, My dear Mother wearied you on this subject. I have mentioned it once before and I never intend doing so again. I write this letter for your eyes, alone, and hope you will not show it to any one. I hope you have not worried yourself, about the / boy you sent me, for although I have not much opinion of his character, still he suits me very well, and I believe I would rather keep him than go to the expense of getting Charles here. Cousin Wat. received the box long ago, and I got all my things, you mentioned in your letter. I got my boots too, they fit me splendidly. You asked me if there was any chance of a furlough. I can answer very readily that there is no chance whatever, as furloughs are hard to get even for the sick. All of you seem to have taken a sort of dislike to Johnny Calhoun which I am very sorry to see, and I think you do him an injustice, as he does not deserve it. he is a very nice / fellow, he is selfish it is true, but evry body is selfish to a certain degree. I will write to him soon, and will tell him, if he elects me a Leut. in his company, that I will come and take it, but will not come merely on his promise. I understand those promises to well, and now I am out here, I believe I would rather serve my time out than to come home, on the mere uncertainty of getting a commission.

 

Write me Frank's address, I would like to write to him. There is very little news here, three of our men (Texans) were over at R[?] Church a few days ago, and saw a whole regiment of Yankees, and killed three of them. Tell Rosa I will answer her letter in a few days. Love to all,

                                   

Your aff Son

Albert.

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