Camp Humphreys near

Falmouth Va Feb 18^th 1863

 

Dear Sister

                        I have not had a letter from you for some time whether you wrote or not I do not know, however I did not receive one

 

Yesterday it snowed here all the day long. to day it is raining if it continues to rain a while & the temperature does not change for cold I think there will be right smart of mud again. The weather in this part of the country is very changeable, one day may be / very nice the sun shining, and the temperature warm while the next it may rain or snow when you least expect it. Since I wrote to you we have moved our quarters on account of wood being scarce at the old camp this place (our present camp) is a very good one, wood is pretty plenty & the water is handy. W^m Wilson while here to see his brother David called to see us. he according to his talk has a poor opinion of the army of the Potomac especially of the private soldiers he says they will not fight, I say they will fight if under the right kind of officers; it has not been / the fault of the private soldiers that this army of the Potomac has not been more successful, but on the other hand it was through some treacherous & malicious officers, who had certain commands in this army that has brought it to its present condition; if perhaps the commanding officers of this army had all been loyal as they should have been, this army might have been on to Richmond & perhaps far beyond it long ere this time, but through treacherous & malicious officers (such as a Miles & a Porter) it is as it is.

 

Joseph Hooker now / in command of the Army of Potomac has issued an order that the different commissaries should issue soft bread or flour to their men, and this not less than four times a week, potatoes & onions twice a week. this he has done I suppose to get the good will of the men and he has succeeded for they are pleased very much. At our brigade commissary they have put up 4 ovens (large ones) so we will get fresh bread.

 

Our box has come at last. we got it on the 12^th inst. it was in a better condition than I expected to find it. boots, vests, handkerchiefs & mittens were all right, most of the dried fruit was good, cans all good, bread & cakes were spoiled with the exception of a few of those molasses cakes which were pretty good yet

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