Camp opposite Fredricksburg

Wednesday December 3^rd 1862

 

Dearest Darling Mary

                                    I have received two letters from Mary since I wrote last one written the 25^th the other Thansgiving—Like Calvin Robinson’s hed had one not long since & said there was not so much in that as there was going to be in the next Your first was not so full as the last I am so sorry that I displeased you by writing what I did on that note to Nell Brown I meant it only as a joke of course I did not believe it. I should have thought you might have taken it as a joke inasmuch as it was written on the outside where both could read it But I will not waste all of my/paper writing about so foolish a matter I am exceedingly sorry for both you & Frances. But you know that some folk or rather fools expect that such things must follow marriage as a matter of course Another of our number has gone, John B. Geer. He died the 2^nd of Typhoid fever we burried him yesterday afternoon. A number of the boys are sick but none seriosly or rather, dangerouly sick John is a little under the weather to day I am enjoying first rate health. The smoke from the pine wood which we burn has raised the Devil with my eyes but they are getting better now with what sick we have there are about the same number that “play off” to get rid of doing duty so if you hear that we have but a few men for duty you may know that they are not all sick/

 

Speaking about “playing off” I hear that Clint writes home the he is as well as ever but “plays off” to get rid of coming to the Regiment So that proves my opinion correct—Capt Brown is sick and will probably be home soon if he can get a fulough I was not supprised to hear of Partelo’s promotion if the 21^st Reg had done the fighting that the 5^th has we should all expect to be Gens. Last night the papers contained the Presidents message God bless him if they will only act upon that I hope to be home with My darling Mary soon I am glad to hear that you have received your bounty There is no certainty when I shall get my pay nor I dont care Uncle Sam is good for it when I do get it I will send home my picture if I can/get it taken I hear they take them out here some where I live first rate now I am getting to be a good house keeper or at least should be if I had a house last night I baked some beans I am going to eat them to day they are first rate I have a little cold and am sore in some part of my body about all of the time but if I can be as well as I am now I will ask for no more I shall have to close now for I have only time to eat before we go on Drill We drill four hours pr day now and it is doing the men more good than Physic Hereafter Darling when I write anything that dispeases you let me know it but dont get angry at jokes All my love to darling except a little for mother                                Court

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