1862
Monday Dec 15.

Camp Near
Falmouth VA
Dear wife I
take this opportunity
of writing a fiw lines
to you I hope thay
will finde you all
well as thay leave us
At present I receved
your letter dat th 6
also one from Hugh
Rea dated the 7 and one
from our Richared
dat the 6 we still
lay in the woodes
whare we came on
thursday night we
are always kept in
redeness fore aney a
mergancey
[page 2]
I think we are
kept in reserve that
is our Bregade as
thay hav nearley all
the troops across the
river the Bumbarde
ment is still kept
up I beleave we
are geting the better
of them I hear verey
little news from
the frunt that I
can depend on you
will get more news
then mee as the
Reporters hav a better
chance to see and
hear then we hav
we are all alike
offecers and men
not one are alowed
to put a tent up
[page 3]
It is a spring
like day the weather
is butiful we hav
had splendid weather
fore some time it
seams as if the troops
ware faverd with
this wiather I think
it is favering the
Rebles more then we
as thay are not so
well closed as wee
we hav just had a
mounted drill It
is now giting two
o clock so that I
must Bring my
letter to a close
as the mail gows
out about this time
we lay in camp
anciousley awating
news from the battle
field
[page 4]
we may cross the
river at any time
so that I may not
hav the chance to
write fore severel
days to come
I will write to
Hugh Rea in a
few days I wish
you all a merey christmess and hapey
new year giv my
loov and respts to
all th folks I am
soreay to hear that
th old man is so
unwell good by
and god bless you
all your affectnate
Husband
Wm Band