Janary 9^the 1863

                                                                                                Camp Near Fredrickesburg

 

Dear wife I received your letar last night dat 4 and was glad to hear from you but sory to hear that Bell was sick I am well as comon the boys say that I am growing fat and that I am quear on sutch living but wee could not stand hard work on sutch food for thare is not aney substance to it John is not aney betar yet he ceapes round but dont do aney dutey I have had my hear out but have not [paper fold] it would not be long before wee could see how I looked you roate that you sent me tow hearnetts on 2 letters but I have not had them and have not had aney lettars from aney body/ in som time untill last night I think that you had betar in directin your lettars put on Waring Brig and Sykes Divis for som letars get miscared thare was one came hear that was Derect to the 148 Reg if it had bin der the other way it would not of came hear wee was on revue yesterday and I had A fare vue of olde Burnsides he is very plesant looking man and wore A sloutch hat he did not seam to feal as big as som of our offizsers it was qite A site to see so many men if you could onley see them martch throught Camde it would be qite A show but it was not aney show for ous thare was tow ladys on horse back to see the revue you must play/ sharp and then you can get nice presants I would send you my pictur but cant get it hear I would like to have yours when I see som of the boys looking at thare wifes picturs it seams as if I could see you this ceaping a man down hear without paying him and faring as wee have to hear just for those speculaters it is anoff to mak aney body mad your letar was to late for me to get radey to com and go with you to Miss Vose publick so you must excuse me for this time and I will try an do betar nex I roat to you in my last letar about James Re and I supose that you have got that before this he was hear then but has not bin since he is/ is about 5 miles from hear then I cant get away to go an see him for our offisers are so strick but I will try an get A furlou to go thare as soon as I can thare is som of the boyes that is geting boxes hear now thay have had quite a nombar the last weak be shour and send me a fine come if thay would pay me I would like to have you send me a box of things Mary give my love to all that inquire and I send you all this letar can hold and when I com home I will fetch my pockets fool no more at presant remanes your affetionate husband

rite soon                                  James Swanson

 

and let me know what Mise don with the baby

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