Camp Springfield Dec. 22nd [1861] Friends at home

As it is the sabath morn I thought I would take this opertunity to let you no that wee are all well as usual and hope that these few lines will find y[ou] the same Chauncey is around the strets about the same as he was before he was sick unkle frank [1] is sick with the measles but he is geting along first strate he has good care taken of him. we expect to leave here before long thare is about a dosen transports down to the navy yard wee were on brigade dril fridy thare was [page 2] eleven infintry and one cavelry compineys we had agood time of it I was on guard last night it is rather cold here now but we have not seen eny snoy [2] yet but it looks like it now we have enough to eat we have got about a bushel of bread in my tent now we trade it of[f] to the pedlers som but cant get much fore it. the pedlers are as thick as hops sense we was paid of[f]. I thought I wood send some of my money home it wil do you more good than it will me fore if I keep it I shal spend it. give my best respects to all the boys and tell them to write and not wait fore me. fore it is hard work for me to write. from your son A Holcomb