Dear Sister;—you stated in your letter that you had very cold weather and wished to know how we got along when it was so cold. We have had no weather here yet like you have had in the north by what you say. We have had but a few days cold weather here or weather that we thought was cold. The mornings are pretty frosty but the midle of the day it is pleasant and warm. It is now showery and wet, it has been so for some time. If it should get cold we have a good tent and stove in it. When it got cold we laid together and got one of our own, so now no one can claim it but us. I was sorry to hear of the fire you had as it will be har for Mr. Shisler and family. /

 

Sister I was indeed sorry to hear of the death of Miss Mary Miller. She was a smiling little girl, but where is she now. We can say with a clear concience that she as far as I knew her, was a fine little girl. I hope and I believe that her little spirit is now praising God in all His glory. I thought much of her last summer a year when she came to school to me. She was always willing and ready to do all that she was asked to do. I wish I was there to see Elmira and Anna and have some fun with them. I have a ring that I cut out of laurel root that I will send to Elmira. Tell her that I have nothing else to send her or I would send it to her I have no ring for Anna but I will make her one and send it too as soon as I can. I just think I see little Ella and Anna when I am writing about them. Tell Brother George W. Jacobs that he might of wrote a sheet for me likewise Tell him that I want him to write soon and give me all the news he knows about the war and also his opinion about it. I want you to send me some paper as we get none but what we get from our friends. I love to read and if it is not to much trouble send me some. Kind friends I will have to close as I think I have done pretty well. I will close by wishing you health and and happiness. May God bless and protect us all is my prayer. Farewell

 

Our love to you           From your Brother

and all inquiring                                 Henry Wetzel

folks.               Write soooon /

 

A few words more. I am on guard still yet, the relief has not come around yet and I believe it will not. Well I am able for another night, it will not be the first time I lost two nights sleep in succession. I am in for the sugar yet.

 

            Just a while ago the sixth Kentucky cavalry came into town and where they are bound for I do not know. I suppose they will be arround a few days and then leave again. The way things look we may soon get into a battle, but I hope not. I hope our men at Whashington will soon do something towards this war; either to cary it on or to compromise and try and to have peace. /

 

Dec. 26^th 1862

Good morning Brother, Sister and family. I did not get my scribled letter done yesterday, so I will try and finish it this morning. I am now in camp seting in our tent writing, whith Brother Moses by my side. I have had more time to write of late than I had before as we were marching so much that I could not get time to write. Sister you stated in your kind and welcome epistle that you would write oftener if you were better at it. Sister just write and your letter will be read. I can read your letters very well and I would like to hear from you oftener at any rate, than I do. The letters do not reach me sometimes that ar written for me.

 

[margins]

 

I wish I would have been in your place when you were asked to help to eat a wild turkey. I think I would of went into it biger then a campmeeting. The turkey we had was good you may be sure. I wish I had some of them sosages you made last week. wouldnt I eat them I guess I wo

 

Direct H—W—

            Via. Louisville. Ky.

            121 regt. Company B.

            O.V.I.

            In care of Lieut Barlow

 

Dear and Kind friends I could write two sheets more but I have three or four more to write and I think I will have to close this one. So Good bye.

SOURCES