No. 10 Neare Fredrickburg Dec 30 [1862]
Deare Wife
As I. have time I thought I whould
Write another letter As we are on Pickets to day
And Layng a waite we are on the Raphannack
River I. hope this will fiend you all well
for it is the Geartist Blessing we Cane have
My Cough is Better some i think but but I.
feel rather weak and I. sopoes. I. shall as Long
As i have this Cough we have not moved our
Camp yet last we had orders to march but
Contamamded soon after. this moring had to start
on Pickets this is a useless war keeping men
From there familys and being slaurterd in
War we Can never fight them down I wish
Congress would Settled it this winter if
They Call more Troops I do not beleive
they would Git them I hope not if I wer
At home they would have to take me by main
Force the nine mounths men ar out next
Sumar and many of the others Troop I. wish
Every one would Go for Setteling it with out
Fighting Let the womin talk it and the men
[page 2]
And i think there whould be Chance to Close
It up it wicked unholey to Put men heare
Voluble lives to be lost whot is minds of the
Peopple there. Dec 31. wensday it began to
Rain yesterday I had to stop it rained
But very Little to day it is rather Cold
And Blustering I received your Letter
No. 15. Franceis was not wonded it was
his Cousen there was not but three B
of the old spain Boys in the Battle
Francis, Ben Pratt and myself I.
Was very Glad of your Losengers I. think
they help my CouGh you Say doint
Laugh in so the Boys sending them
Losenjers I. shead tears of Joy to think
I. have Boys think of me far away from
home Pepperments scarcer then money
that memoranda I Shall be vey Glad
of and that handkerchief for i want
tow two I am very Glad Lester & Alty
Wer so Good Boy to Git there Stockings
full
[page 3]
Kiss the Boys for them Ap[?]Pep[?]s [apples?]
I wish I Could be there to Git some
Apples they Charge from 5. to 10 cts
A peice 3 for 25 cts Chess 50 to 60 cts
Pound scarce at that I BouGt
That for 70 cts second handed
Buttur 65 cts you Can send what
money you Can spare at a time
there macking out the Pay roll and
I hope we Git the Pay soon. which
Will be for two mouonths $26.00
Dollars I shall send home $20.00
Dollars If you Got my Last Letter
you fiend out what a Good time
I had Christmas in having my Box
that mustard was ve[r]y Good It
Me have one Good meall them
I have not taken yet I will
Cloes this to Git in to Maile
I hop[e] you are all well
I. am no worse Good by
James Pratt