Alexandria Va Nov 28^th 1864

My dear wife

                        We are having weather now as beautiful as could be devised. Yesterday being Sunday, Bert and I took a walk in the afternoon out west of the City and visited For Elsworth. It is on a hill a little more than a mile west of the city. Bert seemed quite interested in seeing the sights. From the hill on which the fort stands we can overlook all Alexandria. I suppose our city has from 20 to 25000 inhabitants, and it skims its full size from the Fat.

            In the evening Bert went to Christ Church with a young man here. This you know is the old church Washington used to attend. Bert seems so far well pleased and contented here. I am learning him the business of this office till he gets something else to do for two reasons, first that when I get a leave of absence to go home I can/leave him for the time in it, secondly to keep him from feeling that he is of no use here, and also to have him get such a knowledge of the duties of a ticket office that if at any future time there should be a ticket agent required at this or any other office, he might stand a better chance to get it. Much on Military Rail Roads as to good situations depends on luck and chance. This you have seen in Jule’s case. I would like much to see Bert have as good a streak of luck, for I know of no boy more deserving. I have not yet spoken to Mr More about Bert, for he has been absent nearly all of the time of late, but I have told Pitkin Mr Mores Chief Clerk that I wanted a place for him. Last evening I also spoke to our Superintendent Mr M^cCollum about him, and he said he should have a place. Another reason why I am keeping quiet in the matter is, that yesterday morning Dr. Griffin

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