Camp near Brandy Station

                                                                        Dec 8^th 1863

 

Dear Father

                                    Again I write to inform you that we are both well as ever we have had another fight with the Gray Backs & a pretty hot one too our los was about 15 hundred killed & wounded in this corps we received the box last night with boots & everything all right we had a good Vermont supper out of the same. nothing damaged. Except Grapes & Bread Enclosed you will find 10 Dollars and as soon as I hear from this I will send more. The Boys have some trouble in sending money by expres so I conclude to try the mail once more  Our 1^st Lieutenant is very anxious to have a pair of boots made like Lieutenant Kinsmans Cunningham ordered them more than three months ago & his box has come but no Boots he says he must have a pair I wish you to have Harvey make a pair for him immediately & forward them without fail as soon as possible. Have them made with little heavyir hulp than those of Kinsmans & two rows of nails on the out side of each boot he is liable to run the boot over on the right foot. Enclose you will find the masure of his foot do not fail to have them made & sent immediately I think we shall stop here all winter & if you have any thing els to send now is a good time perhaps we are asking too much from home but did you all know what we have passed craving & know how much good it does to get some sweet mail from home I am sure it would be right. yet I have no reason to complain of our living for it is as good as could be expected under the circumstances.  should you send another box of provisions send dried apples & dried fruit. cheese. butter and any thing you may think best  Please give my love to all the friends & I remain

Your affectinate Son

                                    O Sanford

P.S.

            I shall look for those boots in two weeks from today tell Harvey to do his best for me

O.S. 

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