Camp of the 57^th Regt Mass

Near Pegrams farm Va Nov 21

 

My Dear Brother

                                                                                                            I received your letter day before yesterday and now sit down to answer it.

 

It has rained hard for the last three days and is still raining but we make out to keep dry in our log cabins.

 

I should liked to have been in Marlboro to go to the fair but as I could not I will be contented.

 

I was in hopes to have been with you on Thanksgiving but could not get a furlough but I am in hopes to get home within a month or two.

 

Old Abe is elected and I allways said / that he would be the next President

 

I think that the war will end much sooner with him at the head of the Goverment and that we had got to fight it out but that will not take a great while now.

 

We are in what they call winter quarters but I think that we shall make another move on Petersburg before long if we stay in the department.

 

Our house is made of logs and plasterd with mud with our tents for a roof and if we stay here this winter we shall get along first rate we shall fix up some more though if we stay and be more comfortable than we are now.

 

I have no war news to write as every thing is quiet along the line except a little picket fireing now and then. Mother writes that you want to enlist or will want to when the next call / comes but I think you had better not. I would like to see the army reinforced and see the young men of the north spring to the call of their country but there is plenty of them more able to do duty here in the field than you be and you had better stay at home for the hardships and privation of the army would be more than you could stand

 

When you see Jones tell him to write and that I will write to him in a few days or as soon as I get time.

 

When you write again write how things are going on at the G of T and all the other news that you can get hold of

 

It is time for me to put up the mail there fore I must close.

 

            Remember me to all and write often

 

                                                From your Brother

                                                                        Henry

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