February the 10 1863

 

Dear Sarah, I take the preasant opportunity to rite a few lines to you hoping they will finde you and our little girl and all the rest of the friends well as I am thankful to say that I am torable well I have a bad cold at this time but that dosent amount to any thing. We are still leying in our old camp yet. the wether is warm the most of the time but it is rather rany fide we havent had scarcly any snow this winter I havent saw / any ice over 1 inch thick this winter

 

I never was at such a loss for something to rite as I am at this time we have ben leying heare so long that evry thing has becom old. o Sarah I do wish this that this war would play out so that I could come home so that I could tell to you with my mout what I now have to rite. it seams to me it cant last mutch longer their is bound to be lots of desertions after we get paid but dont think I shal / ever come to that I think to much of you and my friends to bring this disgrace this Niger question is a going to make bad work in our Army I am a fraid you wanted to know wether I eat any horse meet or not I did but I did not know it untill after I had eat it for I had aplenty of crackers to eat so that their was no danger of my starving but their was lots of the boys that was glad to eat horse meet or any thing els that they could get          turn over if you ples /

 

well Sarah you have ben wanting to send me something I will tell you what you may send me that is a checked shirt and if it comes all rite you may send me a nother so that I will have 2 but dont try to send but 1 at a time. Now I must close try and be good girl and dont forget to pray for me that I may prove faithful to you and our god ant that it ma not be long untill I shall be able to return to you. yours truly Wm Forder to his loving Wife Sarah Forder

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