[upside down]

Evening I have just got a letter

from Roselio.

                                                                                                Camp in The Feild

                                                                                    Near Brandys Station Va

                                                                                                                        Dec 21^st 1863

 

My Ever Dear Brother & Sister

I will pen down a few lines to you once more. I am well and enjoying good health as can be for a soldier, though I wonder at it sometimes, after the exposure we have. I suppose you would think it rather tough to lay on the ground at this time of year wouldnt you, but we are getting rigged up now in comfortable quarters and most of the Boys have got up good sod fireplaces the turf here when it is burnt makes hard like bricks but we have got us a brick one, we have torn down every / house for within ten miles of here to get stuff to fix up our winter quarters with and they are as splendid establishments as you ever saw in Vermont, but we make no bones of tearing them down and converting it to our own use. it looks hard to destroy property so but it cant be helped the inhabitants should stay at home and protect their property, but no they desert their homes, so we dont care. Well we have had a verry severe Campaign within the parst few weeks and did not make out much only the loss of about 1100 lives and a hasty retreat back. our Regt was in the hottest of the fight. We lost 11 killed and 62 wounded, besides some / that were slightly that were not mentioned and are able to do duty. I did not get a scratch, but wonder at it when the bullets come from all directions they poured a heavy & destructive cross fire on us which done more damage than their direct fire. I was about 30 rods from them when they wheeled two peaces of Artilery on us. I thought my time had come sure, but they fired over my head, but came verry near we could theo hear them give the order that if we came up again to double shoot their peaces and pour the grape & canister into us [?] ammunition being expended we were relieved by fresh troops and it being near night / the fight soon ceased. the next day we followed them up and found the entrenched and if we had fought them them there we should have got whiped and dredfully cut up, so we came back after being gone seven days. it was verry cold weather most all the time the day we fought was the 27^th of Nov a day long to be remembered Company I lost 1/4 of their Company in killed & wounded they went in with 32 men, we fought them at verry great difficulties it being in a dense woods & we could not tell how many we had to oppose us. I have seen Charles McGilrory and other [?] boys. their Battery is but about 2 mile from us / so once in a while I run across an old croney. I intend to go over to the old Brigade to morrow. it is about 3 miles from here. there were two fellows shot there last Friday Well Chester is offering some nicer inducements for soldiers than they did when I came out I am glad to see so many volernteering to come, for I want to see this thing closed up so we can return to our homes again this is not a life that suits me at all. I thank you verry much for them stamps for they are a verry scerse thing to get here. I have one request to ask of you and that is that you & Suly would send me your / pictures & the Baby’s I would like for there is nothing which gives the weary soldier so much rest & peace as it is to look at the pictures of his dear ones at home now you could not confer any better favor to me than that but I must close for this time give my love to all enquiring friends & save a large share for yourself & Suly and a kiss for the Baby Write as often as you possibly can & all the news for I live to get a letter from my Brother & Sister and I will agree to answer imeadialy

 

this from your affectionate

Brother Joseph

 

I am having a verry easy time of it now for I am on the Color guard I do not have any pickiting to do nor any other duty only Regt drill in the recent fight the guard lost two killed & two wounded Corp J W Fletcher Co. H. 10 Vt 3^th Corps 3^th Division 1^st Brigade

 

Extra

I happen to think of a little more to write, you spoke about Romanger, I should think that John had [?] a little [?] he would have if he could only get two or three more m[?] will [?] going to Fathers now wont he after Elbridge goes off. you spoke about Ellen Bemis keeping school, what kind of a school does she keep is she as bold as she was when we went to school, if she is she is a wild Girl. Ursula I suppose you remember the time when we went to school, what good times we had washing each others face with ice sickles but oh those times have parst and those of a sterner sort are at hand, which cuts us by thousands of miles a part / me in the Feild of action and amid the din of the booming cannon canon and the constant beat of the drum (Martial music and Bands I have got tired of hearing) and you in a quiet and peacfull home I did think some of coming home this winter, but it is hard getting away and then it costs to much, and I want to lay up some thing now if I can so when I get home, I shal have some thing to begin upon, that is if God sees fit to spare my life but I guess this will do for this time from your affectionate Brother

                                                                                                            Joseph

To his Brother & Sister

                        Cooledge & Ursula

                                                Fletcher

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