December 18th 1863

Camp Near Moton Ford VA
Mr Sollemon Carpenter
Sir I tak
the Liberty of Dropping you a few
Lines in answer to yours Dated Dec the 2
& Came to hand Last nite Stating you
& famaly was well, Sir I can in form
you your Son Wm. Carpenter went
to the Hospittle yestarday he was Rite
Sick with his old camplaint of bad
cof & misrey in his head & brest & his
Bowells Runing off freely & his choging
Blood &c As he was gon I Broke
opin his Letter & Hasten toReply to it.
As Regards Robbert [??????] I am
unable to Give the points tho william
Got his pocket Book & near one Dollar
42 an Som pen points in it I cant say
as to what a bout his Drawing money
be fore he Left the Hospittle. but my
im presion is he Did not Draw the [??]
nite. I Dont sea any chance to find
out any thing a bout it [?? ??]
[Cover?] & Billey will Rit to you [????]
wife soon so you can Rite to him a
[???] turn over
[page 2]
2 Page & Lastley
Sir I will in form you we was in
a fite the 27 Nove it Lasted a
Bout 3 ours it was Sharp & unexp
cited to the most of us one man
kild & 7 wounded in my C.o
65 men kild & wounded & mising in
my Regt , we built Brest works
& lay in them but the yankees
would not Advance on us So thay
have Crost the Rappedan River
& we have come back to our Old
Camp Som are building houses &
Som are not. I think it uncertain
a bout our Staying hear Long as we
are two fare from the Rail Road &
Every thing high meal 1.00 Dol a qt
gubers 1.00 qt. Apples 2 to 4.00 Dol Doz
Paper 3 to 5.00 Dollars pr quire & Every
thing Els high &c we all nead clothes too
& blankets as we havent drawed any winter
clothes. our fair is bad Likley to git
better Soon &c Let Elizabeth no a
Bout Billey Sir I Remain your
Respictfully James Ennis , attender