Harrissons landing
Dec 1 1864

Sear sisters and brothers
i now take the
pleasure of writing a few lines to you hopeing
they may find you all well as they
leave me at presant i have received
your kind and welcome letter datted
the 27th and was glad to hear from
you i was sorry to hear that
sam shristy is dead. i seen it in
the papers about thedore Blakeley
we get the papers verry regular
here. we had a good thanksgiven
diner here and i tell you it went
good. i dont expect to stop here all
winter as our leutenants time is up this
month and fore of our mens time is
up next month which will reduce our
detachment to twelve men i dont
expect pay before January but i
can trust uncle same that long
[page 2]
there is a signal station here which
connects with Powhattain and willsons
landing and citty point we are now
under Gen Carr, Gen marston has
gone front. we have bully times
here our duty is verry light. two
monitors went up past here yesterday
that was a narrow escape that
butler had on the greyhound [1] it
would have been a great note if
we had lost the old one eyed cove
i am shure the rebs would miss him
i am glad to hear that the brick
mill is about to start i have
not received any paper yet. this is
the first letter for six week from you
only that one you sent leut Kerry
Dec 2. nothing new i must now
close so no more at presant
from your affectionate brother
Arthur Martin
Please Write soon