Fortress Monroe Va. Jan. 8
1864
Dear Father

I take my pen in
hand to write you a few more lines.
I wish that you would write to me
once in a while so that I could hear
whether they are dead or alive. My health
is pretty good now. did you ever
secure that money that I sent home
on the 13th day of December. I sent
thirty dollars. and if have never
got I want you too tell me so,
and I will try to hunt it up. why
dont you write to me once in a
while I have not had any letter
from any body now for over a
month. I dont know what is the
matter. if they dont write to me
I shant write to them. there is
no news here now only the Russian
fleet is laying in the port now their is
[page 2]
5 gunboats and some supply boats
and 2 moniters and one of the
Ironsides would take the whole
fleet. they are noble vessels I tell
you. the weather here is very cold
for the past week we have had
no snow yet. I sleep down in a
tent now but I am to work
in the ward. we have not a great
many sick here now. we have
one lady sick in our ward
now and I have to take care
of her. if I stay here another
week I shall try to get a short
furlough if I can they say that
all men in Genl. Hospitals are
a going to have a furlough. if
that is so I will get one after
a while. where is willie now. has
he gone to work. tell him that
he must write to me. and I will
write to him. I shall not write
again till I recieve a letter from you or
[page 3]
Mother or Ella or Abbie. how is
buisness this winter can you have
all of the work that you want
to do. what do you think of me
re enlisiting. what would you say
if I did what kind of advice do you
give me. I want you to tell me [???]
you write to me again what you think
of it. I must close now as it is a
getting pretty near noon. their was
one fellow enlisted over in my
tent to day. I have not heard from
the Regt. for a long while. I see
that sent Butter is a doing a good
thing for the releise of our prisoners
at Richmond. I wish that I had
been out long enough to enlist over
again. I think that I would. do you
ever hear from Edgar. if you how
is he. is they any changed in and
around the town how many
is their that has enlisted in our town
that I know. if you have ever recieve
[page 4]
that money please let me know and
if you have not tell me. is daniel
living with you this winter. how is
Grand Father health this winter is he
as well as usual. and all of Uncle
Augustus folks. give my love to
all I wish that I could get to my
Regt. I feel lonesome here I have
been here now 5 months and dont
know how much longer that I
shall have to stay here but I hope
not a great while. My sheet
is getting small so
I must give my love to all
and write as soon as you recieve
and recieve this from your
Son and true friend
Edwin A Lane
to Allen D Lane
[page 5]
in your address you must
not put on the Co nor the Regt.
in your address here. put on
my name and the address you
see at the botton of the last
page of the long sheet
[page 6]
write soon give my love too
all and tell all of the folks
to write too me
Edwin A Lane