Martinsburg Va.
Jan the 9th A.D. /63
My Dear sister Emma
I seat My
self this evening to reply to your
most welcome letter that I received
the evening of [???] and was offal
glad to hear from sister, and all
the rest, you said that I should
let Luther see the letter to but
I tell you now I have pretty mutch
quit showing Him my letters
Well Emma you sade that if I
was their for Newyear we would have
a party and a dance you can have
the party anyhow wether I am there
or not, and just think of me and
that will do just as well
Well Em I want you to tell me
about George I expect that Hin
and some of the rest of the Boys
is [?????] [??] verry [????]
[page 2]
Well Emma it is pretty Cold
here now it snowed yesterday
about two inches of snow and I was
on picket, and This morning another
Fellow and me went out to hunt
rabbits and we was out about one
hour gone and I shot two rabbits
with my old gun in two shots
and Lewis is cook now and
cooked them for our supper
Well I must tell you something
about the railroad their was a
train come thrue from Baltimore
day before yesterday for the f[irs?]
well Em there was talk about
an atack now but I think that
will never be their is no reble
troops here, but their is lots of
reb[?p] citizens here we have
plenty to Eat and we can draw
Close any time we want them
I drawed another pare of pance yesterday
[page 3]
Nicholas Hoopengarner and Hen,
Richardson are a little better to
day but they mend slow,
the rest of the are all well
Well mother you wanted to
know wether I had the rheumatism
any more I have the pleasure of
writing that I have never felt any
thing of the kind since I have been
in the services and I have felt
hartier than ever I did before
Well I will stop now by requesting
you do write soon this leaves me well
and I hope it will find you enjoying
the same blessing from your friend
Eli