Alexandria Va.

April 2^ond 1865

 

Most kind and rememberd Parents.

Again I am found seated for the purpose of directing you a few lines. I recieved yours yesterday dated 16^th the one that you sent with the box and put the recipt in. I got or recieved notice this morning that I had one at the Genl. Office I shall go down in the morning and get it out for I think it must be from you I will find out before I maile this.

 

I have got a terrible cold at present so I cant hardly speak loud and the is something ailes my eye other wise I have no reason to complain. My Box got to washington on the 30^th and I went over and re Expressed it here to Alexandria and Gilbert Ingreham came Friday evening stayed all night and yesterday he and I went down town and got it brought it up opend it and had a regular old feast the Vest was just the right fit and the pants done first rate and the coat was all right onley to big and sleeves about 2 inches to long. But I can cut them off and fix them up. the Drawers is to small the socks most to nice and things are all verry nice indeed My bearth day cake is bulley the pies are rather musty but we shall make out to take care of them so they wont spoile my word the Pickles ar fine I am sorry you sent so / much eatibles for I dident want them as I wanted my pants vest and coat I had to send for them and thought I would have a little butter and chease sent but dident expect you wer agoing to so much trouble I am in a midling good place at present I am Boss cook of our gang dont have to go out doors atall unless I am a mind to. the is 22 men in our gang. We live just old gay here have evory thing here a man can ask for and as good as Brown & Co. can cook it we have fresh Beef 2 or 3 times a week salt pork 3 or 4 times and pork the rest of the time good bread and butter. Biscuit and butter & some other little articals I have made 15 or 16 pies since I came here. O we live tiptop the way we live and get along first rate. we get $73# per month and draw government Rations. then we all throw in one Dollar per week for to buy extra and by doing so we get a bulley table and live on the fat of the land. We dont know how long we shall stay here but long as we do we'r honkey Dorey. we expect to go to the front or some other place before long. But cant tell we may stay here all summer far as known I am in a great hurry to hear from you but don stop writting whether I get any thing from you or not. I will now say I should like to be at home to get some warm Shugar but just as it has bin for the past 4 years But good enough for me I wont stay at home. Evory Dog will have his day 

 

Well I will now say my shoulder is quite sore and lame but I think it helps it to youse it considerable altho I have to be verry carful about youseing it on acount of not getting laid up with it So I cant work atall. Mother have you sent those Memorandas where I told you if not do it imedately as it had ought to have bin done while I was at home but I had so much to think of that it was most impossible how is my debts and affairs settled up ther. I presume you have written but I havent received any thing that looked like it yet. Does Mary hear from Charley verry often or not give her my regards and tell her to write also do the same to the rest. How does Mary Ann get along with the children alone I spose it must have bin a verry solomn funeral. I know it must come verry hard for them to loose & endure the loss of such a Father. Give them my well wishes and tell them a letter would be quite exceptable. But I am in hopes the cruel war will end before long. the is considerable talk here about it in Genl to what has bin for the past one or 2 years and a great many foresy it to be over in 3 months & some 6 & som one & some another But I havent said yet & shant untill there is something more done than what is yet. But I am in hopes Grant & Sherman will do something with them before long So they will get their minds stird up a little 

 

Well How does GrandFathers people get along as a genl thing spose about the same as usual and makeing money on the Railroad business how is butter there and such articals and how is hay selling was the enoughf to fatch out on end did you speak to GrandFather about the hay and has uncle Albert settled up all acounts that he could with the money I sent. and is the plenty money in circulation there and does the R.R. men get paid off regular. and how does it come on, have they got to work on the Brig yet and is timber any higher than when I came away and has Father got out the tanbark and have you got any one to fix the fence and is the colts verry peacible or not and have you heard from Bill Russell. I wrote to him to get it and if he could give it to Uncle Alfred or some of you but dont believe he has got it. if you should go to Gowanda call on him and find out what you can about it. well it is 5 oclock and I shall have to stop for supper wish Father & you could step in and see how we look. that would just suit me I have moped to day so we look quite slick. I will now close till to morrow then finish and sen this on.

 

[overwritten]

 

the letter is from Sophia

I will male this from Eaf

            write soon

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