I wish you all hapy New years

Camp near fairfax station Jan ^st1 1863

 

Dear Mother Father Brother and Sisters

I take my pensyl in hand for the first time to write a few lines to mother and let her no that I am well and hope these few lines may fine you all the same we have laid here prety neer ever since we left the hights untill last Sunday morning when we had orders to draw rations for 3 days march and take our blankets and and overcoats with us and leave our napsacks we started and marched all day a sunday and when we stopped for the night we was not over 3 miles from where we started from in the morning and during that night stewards Cavelry encamped so neer that they got water out of the same / Spring that we did but we did not no it untill the next morning after they had left they was about 40 50 in number of them

 

we laid there untill about noon and then started for camp again where we are a laying all right but we dont no how long we will stay here or what minute marching orders may come we have had nice weather down here ever since we left the hights it does not seem to me like winter here for it is warm here and seems like spring I take my coat and boots off every night to sleep and then sweat at that

 

I got my likeness takening on Christmas and will send it to Mother in this letter you must not think hard of me for not writing for we could not send them out we were paid our bounty / 25 dollars and 2 dolars premium last Sunday night a week we were were paid about 12 Oclock at night I would a sent some of it home but I did not think it hardly safe I must stop writing for I am a little tird I have been a playing ball all the fore noon I will now bring my letter to a close you must give my best respects to all inquireing friends

 

 so good buy all write soon

and often

                       

from your son will

to his dear mother

 

henry Nailor Morris and all the rest of the boys are well so good buy

 

write soon and often

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