Camp near Culpepper Va Nov 22^nd 1863

 

Dear Wife

                        I received you kind letter last evening. it found me well as useual. we had just come in from Picket luckey that we did for it had just began to rain, and after we came to Camp it rained untill dark. there is no end to mud. it is not deep but sticky as paste, but it cleard off be fore mornning and so it is warm and plasant to day. do you not believe that when we come in yesterday from Picket we found a loaf of soft bread for each one of us. we have not had any before in two months. we had/ quite a feast on it I tell you. I am vary much oblijed to you for the Needles and Butons you send me. I have sent back the small ones for you to use for I can not use them.

 

            We have just been out on Sunday inspection of our equipments. the time passes of so fast that I did not know it was Sunday untill we went out this afternoon on in spection. you may wonder at it but it is true. I do not know half of the time what day it is.

 

Charly and I have just been popping Corn. it was good I tell you. it was not as nice as that you have at home for it did not pop open much. I wish I had/ some more Butter nuts from home to eat but you and Bubby will have to eat my part. pleas tell me whear they grue. tell Eunice Charly is well he is writing to his Sister. She sayed you was at Elish Roses Funeral at the Brige. I hope you will not walk to hurt your back. You know you have been sick and you can not be cairful enough of your self, this damp Fall wether. do not think I want you stay at hom all the time for I do not, but such long walks will hurt your weak back. I hope you will be vary cairful of Bubby and your self this damp wether. I guess you have forgotton the questions I asked/ you in two or three of my last letters. I hate to ask you so many questions, but it is all the way I can find out any thing attall what is going on at home. but I hope you will not think I mean to find fault, for I do not. but it is true when I tell you that I do not know any thing attall what is going on at home and in the neighbor hood what has becom of Clinton Moss, and Uncle Amies Folks. I suppose you ar having new Cidre lots of it. I hope you will boyl down a littl sweat apple Cider so when Charly and I send home for a box when we get in to winter quarters you can send me a little in it but when we send for it I shall send some mony to get what fruit I want, for dryed fruit tastes the best of any thing I can get. I wish you would get some dryed pears if you can of Jo and Aunt Loisa all they will spear and dryed buries to, and sweat Apples to I do not cair if there is half a bushel of dryed sweat apples for shugar is hard to get we ar allowed one table spoon full a day onley. Charly is writeing to his folks to have things reddy/

 

well we had a fine time on Picket it rained all night, but we had a good meating hous to stay in, only the flore tore up and bords up the sides and we had three good fires in it so we all lay down by them and slep all night untill five in the morning, then tenn of us went out with ouer Coats on and Rubbrs on over them and stood two hours then we came in and then it was Sun rise. but the Sun came out and/ it was warm and pleasant and a nice er day you never see. we got in to camp about three we did not have any roul call that night. we all went to bed about seven and did not get up untill half past seven the next morning. well Charly sayes we will send for the Box in about a weak so you can work accordingly you may send just what you please. Charly sayes he will have his folks see you or let you know when they ar ready and I will write to you to but I will end for this time so good by Dear Sarah this is from your ever true Husband          Albert R Whitney

 

Sarah & Luie

SOURCES