P.S. you can read Nells letter if you choose. G.H.P.

 

Camp near Falmouth Va. Dec 29^th 1862

                                   

I wish you would send me a 10 cent stamp currency so I can buy a New York when it comes.

 

Dear Father and Mother

                                    I received your long and affect'. letter last Saturday, and should have answered it yesterday, but I thought I would go over and see George Whit. and wait until today before writing. I found him as smart as a trap, but sick as death of this cursed war. He got up an extensive dinner on my account consisting of fried crackers in pork fat and coffee. We had a tiptop time reading our letters together and talking together of old times. How many times said we, If we were at home there would be 2 happy familys in Old Litt. Sarah writes him excellent letters. He got 4 last Saturday. Yet all of them were tinctured with sadness on account of the death of Nahum. There seems to be a strange fatality amongst that family, 2 of them widows. I hope that it will extend no farther, yet we should not complain for it is the work of one "who doeth all things well.." We are still having most beautiful weather here. Which will continue no doubt until we have marching orders, and then as usual it will commence to rain so as to make the roads bad and inconvenient for travelling. There is a great deal of talk of another move on the Peninsula. And that our Corps is going to Washington to take the place of the new troops there and they are going to be sent into the field which I think is no more than right. For I should like to see the 19^th Mass in full strength again. The officers are sick and tired of active service, and take no pains to conceal it from the men. And what is more they are using all their endeavors to make the Regt. as small as possible so that it will be unfit for field service, by discharging all the old men who are unfit for service. The correspondent of the Boston Herald was to our Hd qrters. and the Col sent down for me and he questioned me relative to the rebel army its situation and also about Libby Prison and the fortifications of Richmond. And he said that there was to be a move on the Peninsula. But I should think that the Generals had got most enough in one campaign without trying another The way it will be is this; The army cant do any thing there till spring and then the climate will sicken and kill thousands of brave men and in the end it will amount to nothing at all /

 

You remember the bet between Father and the Deacon. You just tell the Deacon he had better begin to order those turkeys so as to have them ready. For there is one thing certain Richmond is never going to be taken by Union troops. This war is never going to end by fighting, and that is the reason I object to the killing men on either side if it was going to do any good I would not say anything at all, but after all is done it has got to be compromised. The most sensible thing I have heard yet is the Resolution of Mr Vallandigham of Ohio who wishes to have a cessation of hostilities so as to devise some measures whereby peace can be restored to this distracted country. I hope that it will pass both Houses of Congress. If you wish to see the 19^th Mass and 7^th Michigan crossing the Rappahanock in pontoon boats just buy Frank Leslies Pictorial, and you will see our colors in a boat which by the way were the first on the other side. James is in hospital somewhere with a slight wound in the left arm I believe. We have not had any cold weather here since I came here and today I am quite comfortable without an overcoat. /

 

We had gay old dinner Christmas consisting of boiled pork and hard tack I saw Luther Ewing yesterday and he looks tiptop, but is tired of soldiering. How does Frank Patch get along now and is his mother as fat as ever. I have not received those papers you sent to Camp Parole; Our Colonel has got sore eyes and last night went up to his tent and read to him until after taps (9 oclock) He said I was a first rate reader and I told him he must give you the credit for you used to make me read aloud to practise me. We have a drill in the Bayonet Excersise every afternoon and Dress Parade every night and that is all we have to do except keep ourselves clean. I have been the cleanest and neatest looking man on guard every time I have been on guard and consequently got on orderly at Headquarters. But this big sheet is all most full and I will close by sending my love and best wishes to all inquiring friends and a lots of love and kisses to my little mother and sister if you can find a place to kiss her that is not covered with scabs. from your affect. Son. George. H. Patch

 

P.S. tell Mr Bruce that his brother is well and that he captured a gold watch at Fredericksburg. G.H.P.

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