va
Camp white oak. Church
sunday . Aprile 26th
Dear sister
your letter
of the 21st came to hand and
I was pleased to hear you were
well as this leaves me at
present I am also glad
to hear that our dear father
is getting better an hope to hear
of his perfect Recovery in your
next letter . we expect to move
tomorrow morning the weather
permitting . the season is very
backwards here yesterday was
enough to freeze me we have
sent all our spare baggage
to Washington our overcoats
with them we are allowed to
carry nothing but a blanket
and a change of linen
[page 2]
and must Devote the spare
room in our knapsacks
to rations as well as having
our Haversacks full eight day
in all we will have 6 days
rations of live beef driven
after us . old Joe [1] intends to
do some big work in a
short time but weather he
will be successful is for
the future to tell . there are
forty thousand two year and
nine month men whose term
of service will expire in two
weeks and they declare they
will not go into another battle
we are the only three yeer
regiment in our brigade and
in case we should get into
a fight we will be unsupported
and will have to stand the
brunt of it but am shure the
[page 3]
old regiment will do her
duty and uphold the good name
they have alreads won through
__ out the army.
I received the speech
you sent and like it very much
also that specimen of old times
Currancy I have been offered
three dollars for it. but shall
return it to you as I promised
we are signing the payrools to day
and shall be paid this afternoon
Williams has just came in and
I have given him lizzies letters
whiche came with mine
he is well and sends his love
to all. you spoke of nilse
Bratton I though I had
mentioned him in my
last letter. I saw the mention
of his death in journal and
also in your first letter __
[page 4]
I will send you a piece of
our old flag it is nothing
but a few ribbons on the staff
now it is the same one
presented to us in Rothsville
by govorner curtin there were
four men killed and two
woun ded in carrying it
Edward Fenstermacher I am sorry
to say is sick but is on the
turn for the Better
I must close in time for the mail
give my love to one and all
not excluding yourself write
soon from
your Brother
Edward
P.S. Daniel [Hastline?] wishes
to be remembered direct
as before.

Gen. Joseph Hooker