Janur 1^the 1863

                                                                                                Camp N Fredricksburg

 

Dear wife I wish you A hapy New year and hope it wont be longe before I can enjoy it with you but God onley knows when I am well and hope you the same you wanted to know how I fared on christmas thare are fore of ous in one tent and wee woake up in the morning and had onley 3 hard tack for ous no meat no Shugar So one of the boys started out with 20 cen and bought 2 pous hard tack and one of porke and one of the Co brougt in 20 hard tack and at night wee had drawed som whiskey and hard tack and at night I had to go on gard so that the way I spent my christmas the new year has come next/ A lital betar wee have got tow days rations of hard tack and som porke yesturday wee had som fresh beaf and som rice and wee mad heap soop with rice and hard tack in it and had som warmed up for breakfaus you may want to know how large one of our hard tack is thay are the size of soda cracker and look like one but donte last like one it takes 12 to way A poun if I could send you one I would to let you see what kind of bread we have John is about the same he is lame wee have got to move again and whare I dont know nor for what pourpus some say for winter qarters and som say for A nother battal time will tell if I should express my mind about the war I dont/ suppose that half of the folkes would bleave it thay would say that I was home sick but this is one of the menist cind of A war and men ante thought now more of than hoges I would as leave sleepe in our hog pen as whare I do and if I was at home som of my rations would go in the swill B if wee get in winter qarters I would like to have you send me som things but thare is no yuse to send aney thing that you cant send by male for if you should send A box and I should get it and have to martch the next day I would have to give it away for I could not carey it but you may send littal things that/ can be sent by male if you have A minute to I have loste both of my toweals and my lead pensal and had to borow one from John it is rather shorte but is betar than non wee was mustard in for tow month more pay yestarday so that thay ow me for 4 month now but when will I get it is the next no more at presant rite som my love to all but remaines your loving husband

                                                                                    James Swanson

 

I was glad to hear that Ella had don so well and tell her to ceap on and when I com home she shal have A nise presant

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