Jan the 17th 1863
Dear Father
I now sit
dow to write a few lines
to you to let you no that
I am well and I hope that
these few lines will find
you the same the boys are
all well and tough we are
in the same old plase yet
but dont no how long we
shall stay here we have got
some new guns now they
are rifles and as neet ones
as you ever see some thinks
that we shall go back to
Washington to do guard duty
but I dont no whether we
shall or not but I hope we
shall we have fared very
well so far for soldiers [dred?]
[page 2]
bin very lucky and I feal
thankfull for it for when
I see how some of the other
regiments have to fare I
feal to thank God for his
good care over us Curtis is
in the same plase whare he
has bin for some time he is
not very well and he dont
look very tough he comes over
to see me evry 2 or 3 days
Nat is thare yet George Gage
is a goin to his reg he was here
to see his father yestady thare
haint much news about the
ware here onley I dont see
any sines of its closeing
but I hope it will for you
nor no other man dont no
how much stuff thare is
wasted till they can come
out here and stay 4 months
this ware is nothing but
[page 3]
speculation here is evry
thing to get a fellows money
away from him I haint
home sick but I shall be glad
when the ware is don with
for men and beasts have to
suffer out here a privet
soldier haint thought
any more of than a dog and
used about the same but
if nothing hapens I shall
be in otisfield by the midle
of June and that will not
be long the weather is warm
here most evry night I see the
boys out on the wood eating
their supper you would think
it drole to see them in maine
out on the ground and skaterd
all about in the midle of Jan
Lewis had a letter from Charles
Sanborn he is well and so is the
rest of the boys. I want you to
[page 4]
send me some postage stamps
it is a hard plase to get them
out here they had a story
a goin that the 25 reg had
bin in a battle but that
haint so I haint so much
as put a cap on my gun
yet the 17 has bin in a
battle but did not get cut
up much I want you to write
to me and let me no all the
news thare is a goin on in
Otis and if alf Lamb
is a fox hunting the folks
out here are great hunters
they have a good many dogs
4 or 5 to evry man I have
rote all I can think of give
my love to all and write
soon so good by from
your son Elisha Turner