Camp Hamilton

Fortress Monroe

Jan 6^th 1862

 

Dear Sister I take this present chance of writing you a few lines to inform you that I am well at present and hope that you are all the same

 

           I received your letter and was very glad to hear from you and that you were all well I wrote a letter to william several days before you wrote to me and it was received at uncle James Parish^s while he was in Baltimore and sarah ellen parish answered it in stead of willie I wrote to her to day I have not received an answer from Willie since he was in Baltimore the weather to day feels a great deal more like winter than it has before it rained last night and froze as it fell and this morning we have quite a sleet and it is very slippery to day I received a letter from father the other day they were / all well at Barnesville I hav not got a letter from Matt since I wrote to you the other time I receive one from Rufus since I wrote I answered it to day and I expect I will get a letter from him before I write to you again it is very cold here to day very much like rain we have not had any snow yet Christmus and new year has passed and the boys all enjoyed them both very well much it will be a long time be fore another christmus or new year and I expect there is a great many that will not live to see the next christmus we are armed with the english enfield rifle we had the old musket when we left Indiana and kept it till we went to hatteras and came back again. then we had them sent to us from new york when we give up our old muskets and got the new rifles we was paid off some two months ago and we expect to be paid again soon but we cannot tell much about it till we see the pay master we live tolerable comfortable here we have large tents and they are very thick and we have a stove in them so we are very comfortable no more at present but write as soon as you get this letter give my best respects to uncle daniel and Aunt ellen I remain your affectionate Brother

untill death                                         

Thomas J Criswell to Julia

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