1863
No 23 Newport News Va March 6th

Deare Wife I. sit dwn to rite yow a few
Lines to Let yow no that I. am well And hope
This will find yow the same I. am I. want. to heare
from Lester I. Expect to night I. received your
33 wensday night and sory to heare Lester was
I did not have my Liberty as I. wanted to
Frday night
After our Afternoon drill 15 in Co. was detailed
To Go to the warhf to unload hay till 7 oclock
And then Go to Camp Git our Supper you See
I. did not have much time to rite sat. on Guard
you Speake about the respository you done right
But do not Pay Eather of them the first cent.
or Eny other old Bill they will not hurt you
they are tring to frighten you tell them to come
out heare about three mounths And Suffer what
I. have Suferd. I. want to Bighin squar when I.
Git home Stopt the Freeman send one Papper
Back with J. Pratt No wey mouth on it Put in a
Wrapper with S. Cob Boston if they Put
in the Pappers it would Be worse then Rebs
it dwon right Slander and treason to there Country
[page 2]
if Barlett will alow alouw 30. dollars for them wagones
Let him have them take it in what you have a mind
to doint have Eny thing to do with Nahum you
Can Git Cheaper of Smith you must use your
Jugment to kind and qualty I. think I. should
Not hurry about Coal only what is Nessery
For Pressent if we do Not Git our Pay before the
20 of this mounth I. think it will be somtime
Before we Shall Git it But I. think we Shall
Soon the Peddlers fare rather slim the Boys have
But little money. Good many Git the same as
I. Git it But doint distress your self for I. can
Git along without it you Can Go to see Otis
Doint hug him to Close you might Git some them
Things with US on ther Backs I think he will
Git around Pritty smart now But where is
Beny Pratt I. do Not heare Nothing from him
I. think he was real sick and had Ben for
Some time and Not abel to do duty when he
did do it. it is to Bad to send Otis home and
Not send Ben he awalways done his Part
And ready in time he behaved himself like a
Man and a soilder
[page 3]
Friday eveing Maill has Come No letter but
one for the Co. fee much disponted I. Shall
Feell shure for tomornight you ask who
Mr Goldtheread is he is from South wey
Pritty Good Looking man But Biger fool
then Me Because he Could earn his $69.50
and two dollars a day his Box Cost about $15.00
he sold a Good deal and Got Clothing and
Boots he is 42 years old and has Got daughters
No Boys Henery Holise 41 years who tents with me
Has all Girls No Boys Adriam Holis the
other man has Got one Boy one Girl his adge
29 years I. heare Asa Pratt and Loid Loid
talking on religon Loid universlist Pratt
ortherdox. I. wish you Could hear the roar drums
From half Past 7 to half 8. one Band is Playing
Now. we hear tw Bands Every Night it has
Ben very Cold for the Larst two or thre days
But quirt Mordret to Night it has tow Cold Ben Cold to stay
out of doors But Comftable to night Cold
Est winds there is Nothing sold heare sunday
No Peddlers. No suttlers open the Darkes are
very strick Go [???] Sundays
[page 4]
We have Plenty to eat such as it is salt Junk fresh
Meat dried Apples Beans Potatoes oinions tow or
three times a week each. Cooked for us
they will not Let us make fire front of our
New tents afraid it will Black them we
Make mince Meate Go to Cooks fire
Warm it over I. wish you Could seen how Nice our Cooks
are we Lay in the dirt our vuituls drage
in the dirt and Eate dirt. our Soft Beard
Comes very Good and fresh Every day
a Loaf d a day. I traided a Loaf to the
Washwoaman for 5 cts she haves 6 cts apeace
And does them well I shall have another Loaf
Monday. (Good Nighht) that saturday moring
that Cake was Called very Nice By my tent mates
I. was. all Good Packed Good. Nobody but. sargent
Gannet has Treated to there Box. he Called me to his tent
I. Soppoes Henery Thomson feels Pritty smart to be. dad
How is Abiener I. Not herd from him for Good while
What is fis Fisher doing this winter is he Making shoes
Give folks My Best respects around there what is
David Lincoln doing. how is that Beer.
From Privet James Pratt 2d Brigade 9 Armey Corps
Head quarters New port News Va 35 rigt
Kiss for all Good By
stewd Beans for diner