Camp 1^st New Jersey Cavy

Saturday Nov. 26^th 1864

 

My Dear Wife

                        as i have receivd severl letters from you and have not had time to answer them but i thought that to night i would borrow a fire and write you a letter we had to move out of our tent or log house and build another i was very glad for i did not like my tent mates and now i have got a big house me and williamson all alone we have not got it done yet but will nearly finish to morrow if we can the days is to sort we have a good bit to do ours is 12 feet long and 6 wide you must tell our peple that i will answer all / as soon as i get my house done i have got evry thing you have sent rubber coat boots mustard letters and evry thing elce my coat is good but to short by a foot to bad it does not cover my knees it has been very cold hear it would bear a big wagon we got up at three oclock and went on a scout we caught tow Johnes and i got three chickens i have got one yet my boots hurts my feet pretty bad but better now my horse has been very lame he can not walk i sent to you to let pool have three dollars i want a good knife a knife is something evry soldier ought to have and must have it or starve you do not know the value of a knife o my how i have wanted one / so bad hear they charge 3 dollars for a 2 shilling one tell all my friends that i will answer their letters soon i would like to know wat my coat cost i got it 4 or five days agoe John Carman got a big boot box full from home the same day he got a coat a great deal better than mine longer cover ones legs i was over my dirreahr until yesterday wen it came on me again very bad and it is getting cold to run out nights i could not work very fast to day but i am i hope getting better you can send that opium wen you get better reddy that i have got wat you sent me yet most of it you must not think i take to much i have not taking any / in three months nearly that is in a good while do not worrie about me i am getting a long better than you think but you must not look for me home for i do not think i will get home unless the captin comes if he does then i will try if i could get home chrismas i would be so glad John Carman gave me some home bread and butter and some bake chicken it did go so good all the thanks given dinner we got was two turkeys for 45 men me and williamson got one wing and three apples betwen us that was bully thanks given dinner why their come enuf but it was kept back the cussed niggars wat cooks for the officers rolls in turkey throw it away but we get none the three apples was the best wait until christmas then i hope to eat something from home now good bye take good care of minnie good bye                                                                    

from your husband H H Covert

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