Camp Gillmore

Near Portsmouth V^a

Dec 25^th /63

 

Dear Ari:

                        It is Christmas to day and I suppose you will have a good dinner. I will tell you what I am going to have for dinner. it is salt beef and potaters dont you think that is a good dinner for Christmas, I do, but we are going to have a good time this afternoon the officers sent down to Portsmouth and got some foot balls for us to play with, and we are going to have a foot race in bags. that is to get into a bag and see which one will run the fastest. Oh I forget to tell you that my cold has got well and I am all right again. I can eat my rations and more to if I could get it.

 

I have just been to dinner. it was a piece of salt poark insted of beef and three potaters that I had for my dinner, and it was good to. the ordley is tryeing to find out who wants to run a race this afternoon. the officers have made up a purse of $5.00 to the fastest runner. it will be fun for the officers. Capt Bradley is in command of the Regt. and he likes to see the boys have a good time. Oh Ari ant the negroes haveing a big time here, thay are kicking up the D—l every where. I have just been out with Capt to get some one to run in the bag. I got two that are going to try it / Lord Ari the boys will do anything that I ask them to. (I will finish after the race is over) we have had our fun and it was fun to, thay fell in the bags &c and thay went and got a pig and cut of his bristles and creesed him and let him run and the one that caught him should have him to eat. and by jolly if thay didnt go in I wouldnt say it, thay got all greesed over, but thay caught him at last. Oh Ari when I come in from the sport what do you think I found I will tell you, I found two letters from you one dated the 20^th and the other the 22^nd it made my hair stand up / before I opened them. I didnt know but what something was the matter, but was glad to find there was nothing very bad, except that sleigh ride that worrys you so much. dont ask me if you done right, do anything that you can enjoy your self at doing, and I will run the resk of your doing anything wrong. you know what good maners is better then I can tell you. Ah! Ari. I will will send you some verses that express my feelings towards you better then I can write them. read them and keep them if you like them. I will close, give my love to Elmer the blue eyed boy.

 

from your soldier boy,                       

S. B. Tarlton

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