Head Quarters of 50^th N.Y. Eng'rs

Near Poplar Grove Church Va Dec 4^th 64

 

Dear Parents

                        I will scratch a few lines to you this sunday afternoon to inform you that we are all enjoying good health and I hope these few lines may find you all the same and Grand-Ma's health improving. My folks are all at home now for Jimmie has returned from the hospital and is looking pretty well. I received a letter from you night before last also one from the Captain and I see he had not found employment yet. Now you / see I have no trouble that way for my Uncle finds a plenty for me to do every day Nearly all the past week has been spent in building corralls for the mules belonging to this Reg't for we have them all here now with all the ponton trains and the Co's are all here with the exception of Co A and in all probability will spend the winter on this very ground for the Army is building winter quarters now The ninth Corps which was up here on the left was relieved by the 2^nd and has gone to join Butlers command. The weather for the last eight days has been warm and very pleasant so that / we could work in our shirt sleeves needing no blouse on during the day and I think I never saw such fine weather at this season of the year and I received a letter from you a week ago stating that Pa was drawing up wood on a sleigh and had pretty good slipping and here we have not seen a single snow flake this season so there is a vast difference in the climate. We are all living very comfortably together now and are having pretty good times and plenty to eat such as it is but we get tired of Uncle Sam's fare some times and have to buy some extras of those very dear sutlers I dont mean dear (beloved) but / dear (costly) Thats the kind we have down here. I had to pay three and a half dollars for a cap and nothing extra at that price even and Butter is 75 cents per pound and milk 65 cents per can holding about a pint and potatoes 10 & 15 cents per pound and apples are 5 for 25 cents. Cheese is 50 cents per pound. Eggs are 75 cents per dozen Tobacco is $1.25 per pound. Cigars 15 cents a piece or three very poor ones for a quarter and every thing else in proportion. If Walker could only get into the sutler business he would make himself rich in less that six months My sheet is full so good bye for this time I remain your affectionate son Cha^s. W. Personeus

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