Janu 19 1863

                                                                                                Camp Near Fredrickesburg

 

Dear wife I take this opportunity to let you know that I am well at presant an hope that this will find you all the same I have just bin talking with Mr Pendergast an that makes me think of home for he lookes so naturl if I should com home you wont know me for I was wayed this morning an onley waed 185 pou and mustash an whiskers all round my mouth So you can gess how I look wee have got A company cook and one non commisiond offiser to take charge of dealing out the rations and I am detaled for that purpos so that clears me from all gard duty an drill so that I have easy times now John has gon to the regment hospital agan but/ is abel to get around yet but has got A bad coff pedfield is agoing to try to get him a furlow if he cant do aney betar and I think that I will get [paper fold] between this an spring if thay give me aney chance for I wont fite in no sutch war except I am A bliged to for A privet ant thought no more of than aney ox or hog is those nigars is thought more of than white men for nigars can go whare thay have a mind to and ride on horse back as big as life I received your letar last night and was glad to hear from you tell the children that thare Pa wantes to see thame as soon as thare is A chance and hope that thant wont be long/ thare is som talk of our geting payed off soon but we cant tell when I am going to try to get a pas to go and see James Re to day thare is tow of the boys hear Barns an Cook and thay are going back to night and if I can get away I will go over with them an stay all night James Re is well he roat me A few lines and sent over with the boyes thare is not mutch news to rite and the boyes want me to try an go back with them an it is moste time for the male so that I will have to com to A close you may send me som more nedals for I broke the best that I had an hant got but tow my love all an god share to you an the children from your husband      James Swanson

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