No 22 Newport News Va Feb 27 [1863]

Deare Wife This is Birth day of our
Of our youngest born And I. have
Celeberted it in Va. the day I. Left it.
The Last I. Saw it it was a babe in it
Mothers Arms. Can it be Posisble it is
Walking around with the rest three
Geart Boys I. Soppoes Lester. is a Geart
Help to you yow Say they are Good Boys
I. hop they are will. I. Celebereted it by Cutting
the Cake. it was then Cold and Good
Sleighing to night I. am in Va in my tent
In my Shirt Sleves writing By Candle
Feelling warm at that. it is a Geart Care
Resting a Pon you I kow know you
Will do your best remnber your own
Health if your are Sick would they have
A. mothers Care I. Trust not. I hope I.
Shall return to see thoes inocent
Chrilldren It seems I. did not do
Right in Leaving them am I. in
Just Cause I. feare not or else the
[page 2]
Men are not. it is Nothing but
Cheat from Beghinng to End from
The highist officer dwon to Lowest pri[v]et
Good Many will made rich many will
Be made Poor. If the Soldir should
Descirbe to you what he hase seen. you
yow whould be horror Stricken but
We Git use to it Sunday march 1st
I. did not Git a chance finish my Letter Friday
NiGht Saturday on Guard I. Got quirt wet
From 5. to 9. it rained hard all the time
But the Officer of the day relived Guard
For the night Buly for him. you thell about
Dame Groing fat what becomes of the Pies and
Cake that is sent to the hospital by there
Friends the sick do not Git it they may
Git some but ts a Small Portion I. think
I. have received your 32. and the all money
$125. I had some Good bite Oisters are very
Sueet and Nice they have very Good Pies.
Apples and mince from 5. to 10 cts Oisters
20 ct qut sauseges 20 cts lb. but your Plums
Puddins and mince Pies would tast better
[page 3]
I. do not no how Long we Shall stay here
but I think a spell yow hop I. Shant
Go South I. rather then stay where we was
Last. our rigment was musterd in to the Pay
roll Jan. from feb. which makes four months
that the Goverment owes us I. hope we Shall
Git it soon. they Say the Pay master is waiting
for money. that Lemon Perseve was very Nice
And the raissions was first rate. My vest
I. like very much we had Meetting to
the first we had for some time the Chap.
Has Got his dis charge on acount of bad health
you Needent bother about that Coff Pott
I. have Got all the things you sent my knife
Fork Come very handy. we have very Good soft
Beard I. have Got a Loafe a head I wish you
had it. twice as much in it as in howes. I. send
you this ring as my first atemt at making it
was Comenced or of it would ben Better the more
you weare it the darker it Grow you Can Put it
out of sight Giv all the doners of that Box
My thanks. A kiss for All Good by
James Pratt