camp. Sheapard. December. the. 17. 1861

 

Dear Mother to day I thought I would write to you I have been here 14. days and though it was rather tough at first I am getting used to it We expect to go to Maridden hill this week our regiment has joined General Cases 3 New York brigade and our brigade is a going into winter quarters so I will not be likely to be where there will be any fighting this winter if at all I have not got my pay yet and I do not expect to get it till the first of January and then I will get 4 months pay and it will amount to a concidderable Mother I should like to send you som money if it was so I could OB is well and doing well I hope you are doing well I want you to write to me / and tell me just how you get along ma yesterday our brigade assembled at Mariddian hill for a grand review we put on our over coats belts catrage box haversacks and marched 5 and one ½ miles well to tell it without all of the particulars we marched 13. miles without resting five minutes and in the whole time and you better believe that I was tired if ever was in my life but as the old saying is it is nothing after you get used to it I shall do the best I can and you must do the same tell Angelo to be a good boy and help you all he can but I will close as I must write some to the girls this from your son

to Almedia Selden      Willard M Selden /

 

camp Sheapard Dec the 17  1861

 

            dear sister as I have arrived in dixie I will write you a few lines to let you know how I get along which is tolerable fair Lugenia I have seen the Capitol and I have been all throug it when it was full of people and congress and the senate was in session it is magnificent structture the dome of the capitol is 264 above the casement floor and it covers 3 and ½ acres of land and it is made of handsome marble so you see it must have cost a great deal to build it and finish it tell the little children I wished I could see them but I must close this from your brother

to L L Selden              Willard /

 

Sabath evening Dec the 17 1861

 

dear sister as I have been writeing to Mother I thought I would write a few lines to you you must write as soon as you get this for I shall want to hear fom hom and hear how you all get along Delilah I wished it was so I could go to school with you this winter but I shall have to go to a different sh school you must be a good girl and learn all you can this winter I have got quite used to camping in the open field with nothing but cloth over us and straw under us but Delilah I want to tell you about the weather it is as in the daytime as in August but quite cold nights it has not rained any since I have been here and I have not seen any snow here but I suppose that it is sleighing in Allegany Co but I must Close this from your brother

Willard M Selden to M D Selden

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