Chesapeake Gen. Hospital
Fortress Monroe Va Dec. 28 1863

Dear Father

I recieved your a letter
from Alfred Hodges and I have
not recieved a letter from any body for
a long time now. so I thought that
I would write a few more lines to you
to let you know that I am well and
to the Hospital yet and hope soon
to leave here. I shall try to get to my
Regt now the first opportunity. but
I hope that I shall get paid off again
before I go as I have no money now
I have all of my money stole from
me and so I have none now. I should
like to have you send me [50?] dollars
and if you do please get the letter
Regestered and if I am to my Regt.
I shall get it any how and if I dont get it.
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you can get it to home so you see
that it wont be lost. please send it as
quick as you can I have about played
out on paper and postage stamps. and
every thing. I am all out of Tobacco and
I am afraid that I shall be sick again.
I will write you when I go to my Regt.
so tell the folks that they need not
be afraid to write. they is no knowing when
I will go to my Regt. mebbe I shall
go to morrow and Mebbe not for a week
or a Month. how are all of the folks now
how is buisness. do you have all of the
sawing that you want. who is helping
you this winter. does Ward help you any
more. I heard that his wife was very sick
how is she now. the weather here now is
pleasent and not very cold. I spent a quite
a merry Chrismas this one. I had a
very fine dinner. about as good as I
would get to home. but it want cooked
as good as it would be if it was to home
the Russian fleet [beis?] down on the harber
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now and they are a good fleet to the
largest vessel that I ever see. they are a
practicing a good deal. how is all of the
folks to home. how does the recruiting
go [??] have they all enlisted or have are
they all holding back waiting for one
another. to day is our day here and I
suppose that it is to home. we are a going
to dedicate the church to it is a new
building about as large as our carriage
house. I have not heard from the Regt
for a good while. but I am glad
too hear that Edgar is well. but I must
close give my love to all and write
soon and tell me all of the news
and if you dont write get some one
else to write. tell Willie to write to
me as often as he can possible because
I like to hear from him and from
home as often as I can in haste
And recieve this from your
Son Edwin A Lane
write soon write soon as you recieve