Camp Bayerd

                                                                                                                        Feb

                                                                                    Bell planes      Va            [?] 2^d/63

 

Freind Dwight

                                                                                                                        Having

a few leasure moments I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know that I am yet alive and have not forgotton the People of Turner yet.

            I very often think of you and the rest of the family and have sit down many times thinking that I would write to someone of you but as yet there has alwayes something happened to prevent me, but I think I will send this if I dont write two lines more.

 

            My health is very good and has alwayes been since I have been in the army I have not been off duty/ one day yet on the account of Sickness I dont think there is a nother man in the Company that can say the same, but I may see as much sickness as any of them before I get out of it We are all liable to be sick more or less.

 

            Our regiment is now in Camp about five miles from Fredricks burg, have been here ever since the Battle. We wer in the battle the first day supporting a Battery. the Shells flew around us rather carelessly part of the day, but I believe there was no one hurt. at night we wer ordered down River for Picket duty, which we have been doing ever since.

 

            The Rebs are very sociable with us. When we are on Picket we are close to the River and the Rebs are on the other side in some pines. we are not more than ten rods from each other we are not allowed/ to say much to them one of our fellows went across in a boat and traided with them for Tobacco they say they are sick of this war and that our Soldiers the most of them can say I think.

 

            This army I dont think will moove again very soon I dont see how they can it is so much mudy we have had but one Snow storm and that came the 28^th of Jan. it is pretty much all gone now and it makes it varie mudy we had about a foot of Snow a pretty severe storm for Virginnia.

 

            I dont suppose I can tell you any news from this part of the army you get it all in the Papers I sea by todayes paper that Hooker is not going to let this army lay still a grate while I hope he will do as well as Burnside. I expect before two months we shall have another Commander I gess they are going to/ try them all I expect it will be my turn before long. do you want to know what I would do if I was commander of this army I would in the first place charge on Washington and take the whole Cabrnit Prisoners and I would not parole them untill after the war.

 

            Before I close I want to give you a little discription of my House

 

each man is allowed half of a Tent and he carries it on his horse it is only a piece of Cotton Cloth about the size of a sheet with Buttons on one end of it two of these buttoned together makes a House for two but we have made some improvement this winter I and my Chum took and dug into the ground about three feet and then we took and rolled up logs about the same this makes the walls about six feet we then took and piched our tent on top of the logs for a roof and we have got in one corner a fire place with a mud chimny which workes first rate we live just as cozy as you pleas I have not written half what I want to but I shall have to close Charles I believe is married and I don’t/

 

[front margin] know but you are if I thought you was I would not write you

 

Tell Charles I hope he will sleep warm this winter. I shall expect an answer from this pleas give my love to all the family and to all inquiring friends if any

 

Good night from your friend

                                    W. C. B[?]

 

P.S pleas direct

1^st Maine Ca^v

C^o F     D.C

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