White Oak Church Va.
Jan. 11th 1863.
Dear sister,
Your welcome letter came
to hand last evening very glad to
hear of your good health and prosperity
Have not heard from Temple but
once for two months. prehaps my advice
was not very agreable to take however
I had as lief not hear from them at all,
as to hear the is nothing but complaints
I have got that box it came last
Thursday, contents all safe, with the
[page 2]
exception of the bottle of strawberry
preserves the stopple came out consequently
some of the things were preserved in strawberries,
nothing however was injured much
considering the length of time it has
been on the way it was in good condition
I need not tell you that every article is very
acceptable especially Mrs M.s box.
Have not seen any soldiers from Dix-
field could not find them without
knowing the Regiment they are inn,
It is nice weather for winter, no
snow, ground frozon but little one
can hardly realize that it is January
and that they are enjoying snows
and blows in old Maine,
Aunt Rosanna has not written too
me since last summer, wrote to her
in Sept. but got no answer.
Glad to hear that you are attending
school hope you will be a good and
studious scholar paying better attention
to your books than to the Boys
[page 3]
Should like to been at home to the
Bee. Baked beans usualy are found
at such places, soldiers owe them
a particular grudge and every time
they meet a fierce attack ensues ending
in the destruction of the Bean family
Should like to know where you
got the notion that I had been
promoted. dont you know that an
honest capable fellow or a man of
any principle at all dont get promoted
in this army of cutthroats he must
either have some influential friends to
help him or sing sorrowfull requiems
over the fate of the poor downtrodden
slave assume extra piety and go the
whole hog of deception then one
would stand some chance for a share
in the “loves and fishes” that are
being consumed by Government Officials,
But my subject am getting away from it.
I am nothing but second Corporal have
gained that high position without any
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effort in my part more than doing
my duty as a soldier
One of our Co. was promoted from
private to Seargent the order said
for bravery on the field of battle.
There was a Seargent promoted for
the same cause last summer to a leutenant
What some would call bravery others
would call foolishness. It is very easy
for an Officer to get some
friend appointed to a place of honor
and proffit under the plea of
bravery.
My health is good with the
exception of teeth ache have enjoyed
that sensation for a fortnight had
two hard bread grinders extracted
a week ago but the hole they came out
pains me yet
Uncle Sam has not paid us any –
thing for six months, Better shell
out old fellow, or we wont shell the
rebels.
My love to Father and Mother,
yours under stood
Wish you one and all a happy new yeare
and dont fail to write soon never
mind sending blank paper.
From your Brother F. N. Holman
[page 5] [1]
Why dont some of my Cousens
write to me I never had a letter
from a Cousen in my life. if
some of them would write would
answer them to the best of my
ability so help me.
Shall send you an illustrated
paper this week, let me know if
you get it.
Albert is well and full of the
Devil as ever he make more
fun than all the rest of the Co.
He told me yesterday that
[Goorten?] and wife had moved
to town. What will the Widow
do now.
There was only two pair of
stocking in my box one from
Mrs. Mitchell the other in [????]
F. N. H.