December 8^th 1863.

Head Quarters 1^st Brig 2^d Div 2^d Corps

near Stevensburg V^a

 

                        Dear Mother,

                                                I received a letter from you yesterday—enclosed a few lines from Father. We are now about one mile in advance of the old camp where we were when we were situated near Brandy Station. Our camp is in a fine grove of oak and at present is very well protected from the north winds. it will not be many days (if we have the good fortune to remain) before the woods will be cut down and then we will be very much exposed as we are on very high ground. I selected this position for our Head Quarters and they all say it is the best one in the Corps. Our Quarter Master made quite a discovery soon after we got in camp. He was informed that their was a large pile of boards stacked in the woods a few miles from here. he immediately sent twelve trams and came back loaded / with about forty thousand feet of very nice pine boards. We have got our tents nicely floored and some very good tables & beds made out of them. I have just got my chimbney chimney finished and am happy to say that it draws splendidly. I have ordered a camp stove from Washington which will be forthcoming in a few days and then I will bid defiance to the cold weather which we have been subjected to for the past ten days. I broke up my mess yesterday and Capt. Hale & myself propose to mess alone. I have carried on the mess ever since I have been here and have got tired of it. A person gets no thanks and often times is abused besides being out of pocket. My mess bills amount every month more than two hundred dollars and I am aware that I often neglect in charging when I pay out. We have two here who have joined us since I returned from home who are rather obnoxious to Hale & myself and we have / been thinking of this for some time but only waiting for something to occur so we could withdraw honorably, as we own the kit and it would leave them without any thing. Yesterday I presented my bills and two of them said I would have to wait till pay day before they could pay me. this is not the first time they have played it on me. Every body considers a mess bill sacred in the Army and if a person is willing to run the mess it is supposed he will be payed promptly I just gave them my mind pretty freely and told them that from that time they could consider my seat vacant at the table. Capt Hale at once withdrew and I have taken my mess kit & they are in a great stew how to get along. The Col. Commanding is in the same pew. He is one of the party who asked me to wait on him. I cant bear him. He is very much disliked. Hale & I intend to live together & I know that we will live well. I have ordered from Washington / quite a stock of stores. When you are not busy you can just make up a box of good things and send them. Dont be backward in calling on some of my relatives. I think they all would be willing to add their mite. You must be very careful about putting anything that will not keep. Those snaps that Aunt Ann sent last year kept very nicely indeed. If you conclude to send direct as you direct my letters and let me know by what express you sent it. You had better pay the express and I will forward the bill to you.

 

I wrote to Gus soon after you sent me his address. I think we will remain here for some time. I know you people north do not think much of our retrogade movement and blame Meade

 

            You had better come and go through what the Army did and then I think some of you would be perfectly satisfied.

 

                                                            Yours truly

                                                                        Ansel

 

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I am not feeling very well tonight. I have just received notice that Capt Fogler was not to be our Col. I was very positive he would be successful I understand that Col Comm is an excellent man. Our boys are feeling very sore about it.       A.S.W.

 

If you have a small table cloth for me it will be very convenient. My table is about 3½ feet sqr

                        W

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