[1] Camp Benton
Headquaters 19th Mass Vol
Saturday Nov 30
Dear Sis

I have sent you
thirty dollars ($.30) by one
of our officers who will take
it to Boston and send it
to you by Express from there. we could
not send it before. Jake and me went
to Poolesville yesterday and had our
likeness taken. I dont know as they
look like us as the one that took them was
a poor hand at the business. we will send
the likeness with the money. there will
not be quite thirty dollars. the Express
man will take his pay out of it. fifty or
seventy five sents. you will get 29 dollars
and some odd cents. as soon as you get it
write and let us know how much money
you received and if you get the likeness
with the money. the package is directed to
[page 2]
Dave as he will be apt to see Stanley
the stage driver sooner then you would.
Mother can use the money as she sees fit and not
keep any of it for us or buy us any thing with
it we dont want any thing now. Mother had
better get two tons of coal or a ton and a
half and get the rest in provisions or do
what she likes with it. dont you show
my picture to every lady you see to
have them make fun of. both likenesses
are for mother not for you. Jerry will
send you one if he has not allready. I
told you that I have sent the money. I
have not. cannot send it till Monday. it
will Surely leave here Monday and you
ought to get it thursday night certain when
you get this letter you may looke for the
money soon after. if you dont get the money
Friday night write to me and let me
know it and if you get it before let me
know it I must close now. it is a very
cold day here. it is not settled yet about
our going into winter quarters here as
[page 3]
whether we will go some where else send all
letters as before untill further notice. good
bye now. I have no news to write. [yet?] one
thing more. I dont feel satisfied about
Mothers not drawing only one dollar a
week from the town for us. there are
several men in our company who leave
their folks situated as you are and
their folks draw three dollars a week
or 12 dollars per month it may
be that the Selectmen are cheating you
out of the rest. I wish Dave would go
to Boston some time soon and see
about it. go to the Ajutant Generals
office at the state office in Boston and tell
him all about how you are situated.
how many children you have at home and how old
they are  that is you and Sanford and have an
understanding about it. give the Adjutant Gen.
our names what Regt and company we are in to
tell mother to have Dave go when you get the
money and see all [????] [page folded]
[page 4]
officers that have asked me about it think you
can draw 12 dollars a month as well as the rest
at any rate I would go and see about it and
if you cant draw but a dollar a week find out
the reason why. let me know in your
next letter what Mother and Dave thinks
about it. never mind what any body about
home says about it but go to Boston and
see about it. go to the Adjutant
General. Schauler at the State
House in Boston and get what
information you want. good bye

Lyman Blackington