Camp 11^o Maine Vo^ls

Before Richmond Va

            December 26^th 1864

 

            Cousin Hiram

                                    After a long time I got a letter from you was much pleased to here you was enjoying your self so well this winter for we are having some dull times out here I think off you these long eavnings although we boys enjoying our selves as well as can be expected in the [?] we are not having much to do now only picketting a little I do not have to do any of that for I am acting orderly I have been for the last two months. W. H. H. joined us a week ago it seams like old times to hav him here again but he is not going to be in Co A. he will be musterd Wednesday I think in Co. C. & take command of B. they will be a great many changes in the Regt soon as the new officers gets musterd & that will be soon Tip told me all about you & his times this fall he says you make a fine baugh. took him as much as three days to tell me your pranks you fellows had while he was at home his leg is gaining fast now I think he will be able to do duty before long Sam^l is not got back to the Regt yet we expect him every day now I had a letter from him a short time ago he was in the Hospital then Sam^l will be Sergt as soon as he gets to the Regt they is not so much Military about him as some but a good fellow to fight Lewis is here with us about the same old fellow as ever stedy as a brick he does not lose any thing by having one of his own boys ordley. Asa is tuff as a bear he has been on a regular detail for three or four days at Bregad Head Qt plenty of whiskey there but has got done now I think he will be promoted soon at least I shall [?] for him for the next Corp /

 

Benj is down at Point of Rocks carbentering and detached living for a while Geo Thompson is with us but not for duty & I think he never will be Dexter is well enjoying good helth he tents with me I should like to have you see the house we live in made of logs & plasterd up with mud a little fire place in one end some body has coverd over the top of our chimney to make the fire place smoak Dext is out watching to find out who it was he has got a cane to knock the sence if he ketches them. Kelsey I must tell you how we have shouting matchs out this way up there you have turkeys & chickens to fire at when we have subs to shout at last Tuesday they was five shot all the troops in our Div was turned out they was five of them formed in line five paces apart & twelve to shout at each man the comand was given to come to a ready & then to the [?] so all could here ther fellows never flinched a hair the command was given to fire they all fell in an instance but did not kill but two of them dead they was a man selected to go out to fire at them again he went up [?] & blowd their brains out that is the way we wach the runaways one more was shot this morning the same way. We had an order red to us this morning out on perade that Generall Sherman maid Lincoln a christmas present the little town of Savanna & an Hundred & fifty big guns with plenty ammunition to go with them. then came three cheers for old Sherman they are raising perticular H—l down South well I think they had better let our old troops up on the James lay still this winter for I am in hopes by next spring we shall not be oblige to open a new Campagn in Va but fear we shall if it has got to be done we are just as good for it as any soldiers as ever carried a musket we have got quite a number of Recrutes for our Regt / and I fear you will not here so good a news from the old U as you have this summer. the most of them are forriners old Maine shood hur ass when she sent those damn c[?] out here I had rather have one maine man than five of those emergrants. all the most of the men care up there is to keep there own skuls out of this show. well Kelsy how do you get along laying as well as you did the winter you layed up on the Mountain I should like to be up & help you this winter say drive your team I have forgotten all about driving oxen now do you drive them with a rain or a gard they drive with a rain out this way you would like to see the boys to night I expect you would laugh most all drunk for it is christmas they are selebrating it well but not a drop have I got don’t do such things now bad business for boys do you remember the time Father got hold of the [?] bottle. I think I am writing more k[?] than you will care to read how is aunt Hity give my best wishes to her I think you are to blame for you had better get a woman & take her you take good care of my boy I sent you for he is a bully one I will not weary your patience any longer

 

                        I will close for this time          Pwrite soon

 

            Pleas write soon

 

                                                Yours Very Respectfully

                                                                        Willard Becker

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