H.Q. 169 N.Y.S.Vols

Camp on Folly Island                        

Saturday Dec 26. 1863

 

Dear Mother & Sister

                                                I now sit down to answer your letter which I recd some time ago but did not answer right away as we were then looking for the return of Robert Whitcomb every day & I thought that you probably would send another with him but as I was disapointed in that why I will have to send you a tardy answer I am happy to inform you that I am enjoying the best of health & I hope this note will reach you while in the enjoyment of the same yesterday was passed / by me very quietly more quiet than any christmas that I ever passed before I was on guard and have just been relieved this morning yesterday for dinner when we fell in line for to get our rations of turkey each man got a very nice piece but alas for the falacy of human beings it turned out to be a large chunk of boiled fat pork but we had made up our minds not to be deceived so we sat down and eat it under the supposition that it was turkey we had different cuts of bread one for cake the other for pie and one for bread also I will leave you to judge which was most natural the bread cake or pie but christmas is past and all I can do is to hope you had a happy one and also to wish you & my cousin emma a happy New years to tell you the truth I was very much surprise to think that you did not send a / letter or word in some way by him I will try in future to send you fifteen dollars each pay day the weather is quite cool here but not a might of snow have we seen yet but good bye for the present I am still your loving son & brother

                                                                                   

James Caton

 

PS please enclose a postage stamp

Folly Island Dec 26^th 1863

 

Cousin Emma

I recd your welcome note at the same time that I recd my sisters letter & I was glad to hear that you had concluded to take up your residence in the pleasant village of sandy hill you must let me know how you spent the holidays and let me know what young gent has lost his heart and / they say that you have found it those kisses I am thankfull for and I hope you will stay in sandy Hill untill I return and we will have gay old times so I will conclude by remaining your ever loveing Cousin

James Caton

SOURCES