Sister Hattie . November, 22nd 1862
how are you to day and does it
rain as hard down East as it does
here it has ben raining about 6 days
but I think it will clear off this
after noon. I saw George H Chase
yesterday he says H – Soule Charles
Walker Wm Sweetser and Jack Royal
are all in the Hospitle sick
we are in the same place we were
two days ago but have not got
any letters yet but shal in a day
or two the Rebs have got a head
of us and got into Fredricks
burg firs and we have got to
drive them out but when we
shal begin I dont know but
before long I think we have ben
on the tramp for about 3 weeks
and have ben runing after the
Rebs we could keep so as we could
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the men ahead of us Shelling
them but we have not had a
chance at them yet but I
suspect we shal now at
Fredricksburg if the gun boats
dont get up there and knock them
all into a coocked hat before we get
there how does Lide and George
get a long have they got spliced yet
I wish you could just look at me
writing this morning I lay down on
my guts and lay my paper on
my blanket then write it is a very
comfortable way to write I cant
can tell you A Hadgedon George
Soule G Marston George Cooks
are well A H is not very
smart yet but May can tell his
Mother he is getting a long first
rate I saw him this morning
he is out round with the rest
of the boys cooking his break fast
I have not heard a word from
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Herbert Soule since he went to
the Hospitle but I think he will
get better if nothing happens
there is a large army here now
they say there is 250 000 men with in
20 miles of here and I should think there
was all of that there is 22 000 in our
Davision and I tell you it makes quite
a large army we may stop here 2 or 3 weeks
and we may not stop here 2 hours but
I hope we shal go some where to stop
this winter not be a tramping all
winter through the mud
give my respects to Lide and tell her if she
does get spliced to send me a large
slice of cake and a card
I want you to write to me and tell
me all the news and don’t forget that
picture of yours and I will send you
one that a fellow gave me of him
self it is a good one he and I are
chums he is a good fellow and an
old bach.
[page 4]
tell all the folks how do you do for me
give my love to Lide and [Nern?] and take
a little your self and write to your
Brother David V Lovell

P S
tell Jeremiah to write to me and I will
write to him tell Bill that I am
going to write to him in a day or two
kiss Addie for me and tell her
Darlin darlin baby