Camp near Stafford Thursday Feb 5^th/63

 

Dear Brother

                        I received a letter from you Tuesday the 3^rd dated Jan 29^th and was very glad to hear from you. John Edward Horace and myself has been to work all the forenoon at building us a hut. It has snowed hard all day and we have just got [?] through and cleaned out the snow. built up a good fire in front. I have eat my dinner and the rest of the boys is eating theirs now. It is not a very good time to write it is so cold and wet, but I thought I would endeavor to do so for I don't know when I shall have another opertunity, for I am going on picket tomorrow and there is something to do all the time. We have had the most duty to do since we came here than any time since we left New Haven. It has been very cold for two or three days. We have all had a very / tough time for the past two or three weeks. Samuel Brooks and Alfred Bristol was here last week. he left here Friday. I wrote a letter to Mary and sent it by him. they can tell you where we are and how we are situated down here better than I can. Albert has gone. we miss him very much as he had tented with us. I little expected when he left us at fairfax that his time was so short. I am very glad that his body was sent home and I hope that all of the cheshire company will be sent home for it seems rather hard to see the poor fellows buried down here so far from their friends as thousands are. I hope the time will soon come when this war will come to an end and we shall all come home, for I have seen about enough of war although I have never been in any battle. I hope I never shall be. I should like to have you send me a box if it is so you can without much / trouble. there is some few things I would like and cant get them here evry thing is the scarcest here than any place we have been. I paid .25cts the other day for four small apples. 60cts for a pound of cheese. 50cts for bologna sausages, and they aint a bit good even at those prices. If you could send a box I would like it. I will mention a few things I would like most. those are butter, cod fish sausages pepper ginger a little tea and a pair of Buckskinn gloves. the gloves would want to be about the size as they would for yourself. I am asking for a considerable and it will be a good deal of trouble but I will try and make it right It costs a good deal to get things here but things tast good that come from home. I think you had better send the box by Hinsdale he was here last week and brought some boxes. John and Horace had some things come by him. I believe that Hinsdale's express leaves new Haven twice a / month. there is two other things I would like if you have plenty that is a few dried apples and whortleberries

tell Mary to write as often as she can when you cant for it does me so much good to hear from home. I am getting cold and I gess I will close sending my love to all and hoping to meet before long.

                                                                       

from Your Brother Jesse H. Rice

 

I am pretty well so is the rest of my tentmates except Edward who has not been very well for two or three days

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