No 12 Neare Falmouth Jan 6 th [1863]
Va
Deare Wife I sit dwon to write you a few
Lines to Let no that I. am as well as
I. was Before I Left Pleasant Vally I have
Improved for the tow or three days very
Much my Cough is almost well I hop
I hope yow are well I hope it will not
Be Long Before Shall be with yow if God
Spares my life it would be harppy day
For me if I Could be with faimily
Once more God Grant the time may soon
Come it very Plesant heare to day we
Are on Pickets Neare falmouth all in
of the Rebs Fortifications across the
River we are Neare the Backe house
Whare there is hot Beard but I have
No money I must Go with out I was
I hopes you would Sent some but
I Shall save it. I. hope you will
Send that Box and the Box Boot soon
And a big Peice of Chees some Cookes
And mince Pie and Buttur some nice
Cake
[page 2]
you speak about Ferd. Barns. Bill
Diyr we do not Blame them but hope
They have Got Cleare this acursed
war
Armey which we think is wicked
Then Christian if you say they will
Lose thery wadges but I think they
Will Git work some where they will
Earn more. I do not think it disgrace
to Leave the Armey but Bravery
they will better of[f] then the
Soldier thll Bocwood he better
See what the Soldir haves to Go
Through with and see how much
Whisky the offcers take (Capt Pratt
ecepted
yow had Better Pitty the Soldir to have
Left there little inicoence Chrildren
Cildren
We are ready to defend our f[l]ag when
have
the fare and fare the shelter we
ought to have do not be afariad to speak
out but I think there ought to be
Meatings Got up to stop this slaughter
[page 3]
I. have stop to eat a Loaf of Soft
Beard all hot hole Loaf with out eny
thing with it Got money of[f] Otis we
have not moved our Camp yet we
had a Gearnd revein yesterday by
Burnsides there was at host of troops
Ger Gen Ferrero Comonede us to Giv
Three Chrees when he Lifted his hat
For Burn sides he Lifted his hat he
Lifted twic we then Got faint chrees
From our BriGade. none frome me
We Started from Camp half Past
Eleven Got Back about 8. oclock hungary
Aas Bears Bean supe. it Comence raining
And the reveiw was hured some I.
Soppoes it did not rain much it
Cleard of[f] Cooler I Sitting heare on
the Ghound in the sun it is little
We have a Little Chip fire Ghreen
Ones the Whole rigt is heare I have
Got to Gon on Guard a 6 o clock I.
finish the rest to morrow
[page 4]
Friday 9th we Got in to Camp about noon Thursday
But it was so Cold and I was So SLeepy not
Havery much sleep I Could not writ I.
Received your 17. Monday and the hancdkerchaf
And diary. and to day No 18. the Letter you
Sent of your Farther death I hav not
Received I have not received but
8 Pappers I. have not received Cough
Losengers but once it was when Lester sent
I think they help my Cough vey much I.
Should have Like some more but my Cougt
Has Got almost well and my Hrenk
Has Gained very much And I feel
As well as eny time as eny I have seen
Seen I. have ben. senc have senc I have
in the armey
My Apitie is as Good as is was in Plesant
Vally I am hungary all the time
Our fare about the same. you Can
Send Boxes By Harnden. exprss our
Or Kinsglys epess Boxes Came Larst
Night which had not ben on the road
but five days
[page 5]
I think It must be and will
Be settled with out fighting
And the sooner the Better that we
May Be to home with our familys
Some may Say I ame home sick if
I ame Sick the hole armey is sick
Except the Officeres [w]ho like there Pay
And Whiskey Better (Cpt Pratt excepe
excepeted

More soon kiss all the
Baboys Good By from
A Poor Soldir
James Pratt


My shoe was wore out to the
the Ghround I Got another of
a man which Last of a few days
I had the shoes d before the
Battel send a Box and Boots son
soon you can For I am auffull hunghary