January the 11 1862[sic*]       Head quarters

of the army of the Potomac

Camp near falmouth. Col. R. P roberts

Commanding. Waf. Stock to Cap

 

Dear parents it is with much pleasure that i seat my selfe to in form you that we are all well at present and hope when these few lines comes to hand they may find you injoying the same blessing i receiveed Mothers letter on the 5 dated 31 first of December and was Glad to here from her and to here that you was all well we are still able for our rashions we was did not get our full rashions at first but we get plenty now there is six of us in amess and we get 6 lbs of pork 6 lbs of beaf one pint of shugar one pint of beans one pint of rise / a half lb of vegitable half candle and salt soap Dried potatoes for one days rashions we cook our selves from 12 to 15 crackers a day and plenty of coffee We halve not got much war news here but they tried to get the army to cross the river but they wouldent do it they fetched the plat toons up within 6 miles of Fredricsburg and they intended to cross but the Commanders of the different divisions told Burnsides that the men would not go and it was countermanded I think that Soulgern will be played out against June for the two years men and nine / Months mens time will be out and then they will half to do something I will tell you my opinion of this war idont no wether it is right or not but this it this war will never be settleed by fighting I was on picket a thursday and iwas on one side of the river and the rebble pickets was on the other side and they was as lively as you please and they had large fires and our oficers would not let us halve any fire at all and they tryed to make us put out the fire that we was there when we went but we wouldent do it and they had alively cristmust they was fireing all day and if we shot off our gun we was put under gard they halve not put / any of us under gard yet Since we came here and i halve got off very well so far we are alooking for our money every day we got the pickture and was very well pleased with it no more at present But remain

your Sun George. W. Carter

                        to his Father and

I will put this                           Mother

her hopeing that                      and the rest

I masee it in                                        of the family

less than a year

 

                        Direct to Washington

                                                City DC

                                    to Be ford on

this ink is                                 Company K

mad of powder                                    140 Reg

 

 

[*the unit was camped near Falmouth on New Year’s Day 1863 and through the spring of that year]

SOURCES