Blue Ridge Va                                   

Camp in Loudon Valley Va Nov 26^th/62

                                   

Dear Parents

                     yours of the 23^rd is just recd I am verry glad to get it we have built a log hut 14 foot square have sent to Harpers Ferry and got a stove and live in style to what we have done I tell you our stove cost four dollars and seventy five cents it is a sheet iron one would cost at Middletown $2.00 but there is ten of us in it seven are Cromwell viz C H Wilcox C T Penfield C G Hubard Jerry Hubard J A Lyman J H Conniff Geo S Palmer the Haddam boys are S H Spencer John Brainard F R Bailey we may stay here till warm weather but cant tell much about it the rebels may try to drive us out as only our Brigade is in the valley of Loudon we are under Genl Kane yet and Major Genl Slocum Division his business is to guard the Potomac and H—s Ferry we expected have as you have seen probably expected lively times around here their pickets still hover around us and only four miles from us quite a force are camped / at Charlestown only six miles they hold that also at Winchester Jackson has quite a large force A deserter came into our lines and says Jackson army is in the valley of the Shenandoah and the lice are eating them up alive we dont know where he is as he goes just where he takes a notion to Our Genls seem to be afraid of him I am not free from a sore throat yet quite we have verry cold rainy weather and I have to be out drilling or on picket every day but you neednt worry about my health I will take as good care of myself as I can the boys all have colds more or less a good many are sick in the 20^th Conn one in Company D died at one A.M. was sick only four days his remains will be sent to Portland they will start on friday arriving at Middletown saturday his name is W^m Foster thirty years old native of England leaves a wife and three children one a babe about two months old Robert has just come in to loaf at little Tom Thumb (our stove) it is a tiny little thing one can carry it Ed is here has just got a letter from his father they are well / all boxes can be sent in four days by Adams Express to any of the boys they get barrels from home with gloves and little nick nacks such as pies cakes apples and it makes those that dont get any feel kinder bad it is verry cold here with no gloves if we had to fight I dont think I could fire a gun some times my hands are so cold the box of tobaco has not come yet the sutler asks ten cents a paper for his and evry thing else in proportion I have written to both Frank and Loomis got one from Loomis the other day he didnt say any thing about being sick then he was at Bull Run he went within two miles of our camp on his march I hope to hear from both before long it is roll call write soon good night and Pleasant Dreams

                                                                       

your son George

 

all send their love

 

I am on picket to morrow aint that too bad for thanksgiving but never mind

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