Camp 22^d Mass Regt.

Near Beverly Ford Virginia

Friday afternoon Dec. 11/63

 

Aunt Hannah.

 

                        Your letter of Nov 19^th has been received I was very glad to hear from you for I had begun to think that you had forgotten me.

 

I am as well as usual To day the weather is cold and stormy. this morning we had quite a hail storm. we have had orders to build log houses for winter quarters but I dont expect we shall stop here very long. I suppose you have read all about the late movements of this army. I see by the papers / that the people at home are dissatisfied with this army because we fell back without engaging the enemy. I think it a very lucky thing for us that we did fall back for if we had charged the works that we were first ordered to there would have been but a very few of us left to have told the tail. (I wish a few of those people to home who wish to dictate this army would come to the front. I rather think they would change their tune a little.) When we advanced across the river (Rapidan) the rebel cavelry attacked our wagon train and burn and destroyed some 20 wagon loads of grain and ammunition besides taking away 60 or 70 mules & horses and 20 or 30 prisoners this regt being the last in the division we were ordered back / to drive the rebs from the wagons. we being the first Co we had a few shots at them before they left killing two and wounding some others, which they carried away with them. one of this Co. who was on the wagon guard was taken prisoner. When we fell back the last two days we had no rations. (rather rough to have to march all day without anything to eat) Thanksgiving day we marched all day. for my dinner I had a few pieces of hard tack. (such is the life of a soldier the goverment now offers large bounties for us to reenlist but when they catch an old soldier again it will be one that wants money more than I do. 

 

Last night our sutler arrived with a lot of goods he had some wiskey which the boys have got and now there is 20 or more of them jolly drunk fighting and raising the very D—

 

This brigade was in the fight at Rappahannock Station we lost about fifty killed and wounded. I never saw any account of it in the papers as is very often the case with what the 5^th Corps does.

 

Lt Smith has been made Captain Sergt Ward 1^st Lt. so Capt Wentworth will never have a chance to come back to this Company again.

 

I must now close with the hope that this will reach you in safety. Give my love to Linnie Uncle Amos. I hope you will use a larger sheet of paper this time

 

From your Nephew,    John H. Hone.

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