No 14 Near Fredricksburg [January ] 15th 1863
Va

Deare Wife I. sit to Let yow no that I.
Received your Letter 19th of the death of my
Farther tusday night the rigt. was Going on
Pickets the next day and we Got maill night
Befor it did not surprise me much But I.
Felt different for Being so far Away from
And to think we had Buried Farthers
So Near to Garther But he has Gone to Better
World and it will be a releife to her ho has
Waited on hin so Paistiancely thes Larst few
years I hope She will Live to enJoy Life
that her Children may Bless her I hope
I. Shall once more meet her on earth may God
Grant the Privledge yow may Giv her my
Best respects hoping the time will not Be
Long Before I Shall see her aghain / we went
to the river on Pickets Near the City I.
Was Placed on the Bank Nearly opiset the
City I Could see the Pickets Near enght
Speak to I was on two hours from 12. to 2.
Thursday moring 6. to 8 they Dug Long Piece
of trench that night
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We Came Back and attended furnerl
Of one of the Co. E. it was a imfosing
Apeareance to see so many Soldirs folering
Fo the Grave with the Band one of there
of thar members we had on our Belts and
Bayneot we march in two rank the wind
Blowed almost a Gale till in the ev[en]ing
And it Comence raining thursday nigh[t]
to day saturday it is bery Cold we had
Orders to march at an earley hour with
3 days raitions in our haver sacks we
had a rations of dried Apples which I Put
in that Marjorum Box and Shut it
up about a Gill . sunday 18th I. sit
to finish this Letter it is very Cold heare
to day Beny Pratt is about the same
to day his Face swelled and looks
Very Red he Going to Aquire Creek
to a Conveant hosptial he haves Good
Care. I have Got another Pair of
Shoes the fourth Pair. I want to no
how you Git a Long I Should think
I would seem [o?]d I. think you
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had Better. take her in with you
And Give her h[e]r Board for I think
She to old to do her own work to Git
In the moring to make fire She ought
Reast yow may Give Mr Rockwood
My Best rspects and thanks for his
Prayrs and he will Prosper in his
feild of Laybor and may God Grant
It. I. wish he Could see what
We he see and have to Go throught
With Oficers and Chaplian dru[nk]
With Whiskey will the Cuntrey
Prosper. I hope he will Give us his
Prayars and his infulence to have
Settled without fighting.
I. am in Good health my Cough
Is about well you Can send
By Kingsley Expres they say
I want some stamps very much
I Shall write soon as I Can
I want you to write twice
a week a kiss for All
James Pratt