Battery No. 5

Jan 1^st 1864

 

My Dear Emma

                        What a quiet day this is our Regiment has issued orders not to have a shot fired on the lines to day under any consideration unless the Rebels fired first, consequently it has been the quietest day that the army has seen in years. It closed off with a snow storm last evening and is as cold as [faded] here today. Our Company had a New Years gift of 18 recruits last evening and such a homely set of men. They are all [faded] and came from all quarters of the Earth I should think, and look like the last rose of summer. I wounder if they are a fair specimen of what is left in the / in the northern States at the present time if so I don't wounder that the girls are anxious to have the war end so that the old Soldiers can come home as it is thought that the best of the young men are now in [faded] ain't that so? Well Emma what are you doing to day? and what are you going to do this evening? out sleighing I suppose with some young gent, at least I hope so for I believe in doing it when we are young for when we get old we can't. Lt Bill has just called me and says that it is time for us to comence celebrating so I shall have to quit writing for the present and go in and take something to drink with him. Lt. Humphrey started for home this morning on a 15 days furlough so Lt Bill and myself are / all alone to day. Your letter of the 21^st has not been received. If you wrote one, somebody has probably taken the liberty to take it out of the mail. if so I hope it will do them some good don't you but I don't care about their doing it again as I am not anxious to go without a letter for 8 days as I did this time. Well this is the first day of the year and I wounder where I shall be one year from to day and what dangers I shall past through during that time the past year has been one of adventures to me and I have enjoyed it very much and hope to do the same for the year to come. Well you have good rides it seems by your letter so you have kept your promise your faith and I hope you may have many more for your [faded] benefit / soon [faded] if I do not come home in time to have one with you but I don't care so much about a sleigh ride as I do to just set beside you once more and you can bet that you would not get away very soon not until I had one kiss at least how would that suit you?

 

Well Emma dear I can't think of any thing to write so I will stop.

                                                                                                           

Yours Truly

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