[1] Jan 1th 1863 [2]

It is new years

to day and a
cold windy day thare
is no drill to day it
is a soldiers hollyday
but it comes my turn
to go on guard I have
not ben on guard
before since we have
ben here birt and newt
wer over here from the
forty six monday they
are tough and healthy
birt sed that he
never waid so mutch
[page 2]
in his life but that
march rather pulled
newt down he has lost
over thirty pounds they
brought the news that
ory gains was dead he
was an old friend of
mine he was George
gaines son he went in
to the hospital tuesday
and died thirsday his
father told him that
he hoped he would never
come home he hoped
he wood get killed
in the first fight
but he never was
[page 3]
in enny action at
all birt was over this
fore noon he is healthy
and in good spirits
they come over evry
few days to drill they
are in our brigade
we are the fifth
brigade first
battallion cornel
corcoran brigade
arived here this fore
noon from fortress monroe
I think that thare
is a goin to be a
nother move in NC
but I dont think
that our brigade is
[page 4]
goin this time I
think that we shall
be left here to
guard the place.
I have jest eat my
oyster super and it
went tip top we had
a ration of whiskey
to this after noon
so take it all around
we had a prety good
new years super for
a soldier in the
army from your
brother Alfred