Fort Pennsylvania DC. April 5^th 1863

 

Mr Edward Livingston.

                        Dear Friend,

                                                When looking over the mail and sorting the letters the day before yesterday I was made glad by finding one for me from you dated March the 29^th. I glad to hear from you once more and to hear that all were well. I solved the enigma this morning, and have made one to send to you. It commenced snowing and blowing yesterday afternoon and it is snowing and blowing yet. it would do honor to any Winter’s day. We Soldiers think this to be severe weather for the sunny South on the 5^th day of April. It is about / noon now, and I must go to dinner. The hospital kitchen where I board is about 300 yds from here. part of the way the snow is about 2 1/2 feet deep but it will not stay long with us I think, for it melts away on the side next to the ground. Dinner is over, and I ll resume my pleasant task and finish this letter. I hastened and ate my dinner so I could get back to my writing. May be it would’nt do any harm to tell you what we had for dinner we had boiled fresh beef, soup, baked potatoes, bread, peach pie, salt, pepper, and water to drink. our cups and plates are tin, our knives and forks are made of iron or stell some with wooden handles some with bone and horn and a few with iron ones. our table is an unplaned pine plank about 20 inches wide fixed up on sticks / drove in the ground with an ax or some other weighty tool. If you could see us eat you would think the victuals tasted good. We do not have our food spread on a cloth that has been boiled with the dirty shirts, shimmies, and drawers of a household. The mail boy from Ft Kearney who carries the morning reports, told me a day or two ago that Gilbert Keenholts had been reported to headquarters as a deserter because he had not got here when his time was up after having it extended. It makes it bad for us when men stay over their time. It keeps a great many from getting home who deserve a furlough and who would nt betray the confidence reposed in them by their officers. I have been thinking about getting a furlough, but so many have done so bad I think I stand a slim chance of getting away. I wish every man would do as they / agree to, then all things would go along as merry as a marriage bell, and regular as clock work. (when it is in running order) I will add

 

I am well. It is about half past one oclock now It has stopped snowing but the wind blows a gale from the North, and it has the appearance of clearing off. I imagine I can see you when you are writing to me, and composing an enigma sitting in a corner in your cottage home probably with your chair leaning back against the wall, perhaps you have a slate then if you do not get it right the first time it is easy rubbed out, and corrected. Excuse all the mistakes and write soon to Your Friend,

                                                                        Stephen R Whitney.

I want to write

another letter to day to a                                 [stairstep design, spelling on the left

faithful correspondent I                                  UNION FOREVER and on the right

have in New York City….                              UNITED WESTAND]

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