New Camp Canvalesent Va
Jan 15th / 63
Dear Sister
I received your
welcome letter to–day and
was pleased to hear you were
all well as this leaves me
at present. it was the
first word from you
since I left Washington
although I had written
fore or five times, we
have good quarters here &
tolerable soft Bread &
salt pork and plenty
of some mixture called
coffee to wash it down
we were to be treated to
a feast on Christmas
but it turned out to be
a grand Hoax ditto
[page 2]
on new-years-day. they
occasionaly get up a
grand affair here which
turns up fizzle and
then they get a grand flare
up in the papers for their
benevolence __________
the citizens are flocking here
by dozens getting their friends
out of service and always
with success the Boys
are tired of the service_______
they are discharging at the
rate of 75 per day for the
last 4 weeks___ I am
glad to hear you have had
a letter from Bill and
that he was well. when
you write to him let him
know where I am
as I do not expect to see
him for some time ______
you say metilda has honered
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my name by giving me a
namesake I hope he may
prosper and not become
a soldier for all the
miserable cusses in the wourld
a soldier is the worst _______
give my love to trut and
family I do not know
what to write at present
that would interest you
so you must excuse a full
letter _ I have not received
the needle case you mentioned
but am very sorry I did
not after the trouble you
went to. you need not go
to the trouble of making
another as I can get along
without it and it would
be trouble to get it I still
have the one you gave
me on leaving home and
intend to hang on to it
[page 4]
4
there is nothing I want
at present you could
send me so you need
not trouble yourself on
that score I have not
yet seen the Bechers but
expect to go to town to-
-morrow and may perhaps see them. in
reference to Ed Fenstermach[er?]
I saw him last week
so I mentioned in my
last letter his wound
is entirely cured I gave
him some paper and
envelopes to write home
which he did about half
of our letters are lost __
going through too many
hands for plunder _____
I must make short
[page 5]
letter of this but will
write more next time
two discharged men
from our Reg. started
for home to day and of
my comp any named
mayer from Norwegian
[??] give my love to father
and I hope this will find
him in good health
give my love to Lizzie
and family to Lee
to Nicholas and adam and
all friends reserving a
portion for yourself hoping
to hear of you soon I
remain as ever
Your Brother
Edwd Henry
Signed as before
P.S. give my love to miss
Spacht [1]