Steversons Depot. W^t V^a

                                                                        Head Q^rs 116^th N.Y. Reg^t De^c 7^th/6(?)

 

            Miss Hutchins. Dear friend yours of the 22^d is at hand with pleasure I take up my pen to acknowledge the receipt of the same which was received in due time. I would have answered it before but we received orders to break camp and move back to the place whear we are now [which is 12 miles] & we have had a verry bad time to move it has Snowed or rained every day you can have/but little idea of what we Sufferd for one week laying on the ground with nothing for a covering but our ponchoe tents. but it is all in the heardships of a soldiers life. I have now got comfortable quarters. I will give you a minit discription of my tent perhaps it will be interesting to you to know how my house is built & furnished. it’s size is 12 x 8 x 12    3/4 story on the ground built of log’s we split our floor & bunk boards out of oak log’s. the No. of inmates are four (mostly Soldiers) we have arrected two bunks in the back end have three shelves to lay our dishes & cooking utensial’s which consist of tin plates, cups knives & forks pepper box. salt server. with a frying pan. kettle. & coffee pot. the house furniture is mostly guns. belts. knapsacks. canteens. & haversack with a few stools instead of chairs. we have a nice fireplace built of stone and while I am writeing thare is a good fire in it and in/one corner of the hut [for I must call it so] is a good pile of wood. perhaps you will think this is enough of the arrangement and discription of my humble dwelling I will change subject.

 

                                                                        your letter found me well & in fine spirits be assured I was much pleased on the receipt of it. I had retired for the night when the Serg^t got the mail. he fetched it into my tent and I saw by the Post mark that it was from you I was verry tired after working heard all day but I got up & read the contents of the missive. I mi must confess I should not have got up to read any other. I was glad to hear you was enjoying yourself so well you spoke of singing, Arrithmetic & pursing Schools I am thankful you have the benefit of an opportunity of attending scool many times I wish I had spent more time in getting an education. you/will excuse & correct all my mistakes wont you [and not complain with doing such a tedious task] you said you was going Home on a visit to spend the Hollidays. I hope you will (or did) enjoy yourself and all the good times accompanying hollidays. if I live & meet with no accident I will have the pleasure of spending Christmas & New year’s at Home or in some other good place next year. please give your humble corispondant an account in full of the amusements and pleasant times you had at Home in your next you said you had not seen or heard from Hattie in six weeks. I hope she is well & enjoying herself this winter. but Mariette (excuse me for calling you by that familiar name) dont you believe she has not written to me in two months and I have written two letters to her. dont you think she is getting scornful to her coz as she allways used to call me. I hope if you see her soon after you receive this you will give her a good lectureing. tell her I am the same coz I used to be & wish she would respect me the same please excuse me this time. write often and be assured your letters are received and perused with pleasure by one who is your friend although a stranger I will close by bidding you a silent good Night my best wishes are all ways with you. I will subscribe myself as ever your friend. Stephen A. Matthews

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