Camp 1^st N J Cavelry

Sunday December 25^th 1864

Happy Christmas

 

My Dear Wife And Boy

               How are you this plesent day my Dear i am well i expect you are most foundered on good things i am on boiled pork & bean soup full as an egg could not eat any more if i was to try except cake & pies since i rote your last letter i have been very buisy i have got my cabbin floor laid done it to day i have been at work all day hard got a lock and slide for my door yesterday i could not find a key we was after boards a good way out from the lines we went to guard the train and we get the teamsters to carry us some along i got a fine lot as many as i want i have a very / fine house i am satesfied with it the band is playing now they are sernading the Lieutant Cornel for their whiskey they have been playing all day evry time they get dry they go and seranade some officer and the officer treats them they play very well i know you would so much like to hear them tell father we have got a full band and he will be sure to come Sutphens father is coming this week sutphen got a box to day the company got a good many boxes two 4 horse loads for the Rejiment but none for me and i took bean soup Ha. Ha. if you send me one you must send the express ticket in a letter right away or i cannot get you will have to forgive me for writing you a short letter this time my candle is almost gone and i cannot get any more i had bad luck with my Christmas present i took them to the tailer to get them put / and he was putting them on and had one on and the other lay by his side on the wood and our comissarie Sargent came in and put the wood in the fire stripes and all i tried to get others but could not but i expect some tomorrow i will let you know if i get it in three days i will write to you evry three days until we go on picket then we will have to be silent for 4 i want to get my over coat lined and i want you to send me the monney to do it with if you have got it by you i want 2½ you can send 5 and then i expect to get paid on the 10 or 20 of January i would like you to line it but i cannot get home and i can have it done i have got a new saddle blanket i am going to have it lined with it is not thick enuf for winter and if i can i will send it home in the spring my candle is most gone all but about ½ inch and i must / keep that so if we have to get up befor morning we can rais a fire you must take good care of your self and Minney and eat for me and you both Well Dear evry thing went off as usel to day you could not hear any one wishing each other Happy Christmas it is to old a thing they think but all looking for a box you could see some very sober faces wen the quartermaster told them their was none for them i had to lauf some had express tickets and their box had not come through yet and so they had to go without you see it takes 7 days for one to come the band is playing very fast tunes now and i guess you know wat it is they are playing high Betty Martin i guess they have had a drink i wish i had good night my dears                    From you know who

Sarg^t Henry H Covert

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