Camp near

Stafford. C.H. Jan 28^th

 

Dear Bro

                        I received your welcome letter of the 25^th ins^t 2 days ago but was unable to answer it as soon as I would have wished as I was on picket duty one day and the next was spent in building a log shanty as we expect to stop here for a good while as we are almost up to the Main Army.

 

We had a hard time of it on our march from Fairfax to this place we were five days on the road and it was raining about half of / the time we could not travel more than 8 miles a day on account of our train of wagons & Artillery. such a march as this I never want to see again If some of the newspaper Editors could have seen us on that tramp they would not cry “Why dont the Army move” our Camp is about 1/2 a mile from Sigel’s Headquarters & some 4 or 5 miles from the R. Road leading to Fredericksburg

 

We received four Months pay just before we left the Station I sent 35 Dollars to Mother and think to have some in my Pocket until they Pay again but we cant buy / anything here without paying double price for it. Butter is 15 cts a pound and Cheese .50 so that money will not go far. The few Farmers around here have not seen wheat Flour for six months. they have to live on Corn Bread and fare as bad as their niggers

 

I received the Gum blanket you speak of while on Md. Heights and thought that I had written of it

 

nothing more at present

 

Give my love to Mother

Sisters & Brothers & receive

the same yourself from

Your aff Bro

                        Dan

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