1863
Wednesday Jan 14

Camp Near
Bell Plane VA
Dear Wife I
take this oppotunity
of writing A few
lines to you I hope
thay will finde you
all well as thay
leave us At present
I receved your
letter dated the 7
yesterday a[l]so your mitts
and paper and envelopes
one from our Richard
I Also receved one
dated the 3 severel
days Ago while on
pickit I should hav
wrote sooner But I
[????????????] [1]
[page 2]
I was on picket
five days and came
in on munday night
I whent on garde
yesterday morning
and was releaved this
morning you will
see that we are
kept Prety Busiey
the Privates hav it
worse then mee so
that you see thay
hav not got much
time to spare that
scout did not gow
out Beyound the
Picketes they returned
to camp much to
the disapointment
of the men thay
expeted to see sumthing
don But like All others
mooves to slow
[page 3]
I was over to se
Capten Gray the other
day he look well
Beter then i iver
sean him his compney
like him well he
was offecer of the
day when i was thare
so that I did not
stay long with him
he ast about you
all I told him
all I knew he
talked of writing
to the old man
I wished him to
do so I thoug
it would interest
the old man he
is not of the same
opinion as when
he came he findes
things diferent from
[page 4]
What he expected
soldiers are only
Dogs in the hands
of offecers thay are
tide up Bucked and
gaged with sabers
in thare mouths
I expect to see some of
it before long when
the men get Pade
off I think the news
are a little faverable
But nouthing to Brag of
I am glad you got your
Pig I would like to
help you to eate it
nouthing would giv
me more Pleasure
then to see you all
at home once more
Wm Band
[page 5]
Jan 14
I am soreay to hear
that the old man
keeps so unwell I
hope the next letter
will speek Better
Giv my loov and
respects to All the folks
Ask Jony Band if
uncle got my letter
in aswer to his I will
write agane before long
Ask him if ever thay
heard from Miller
tell him I hav never
sean the 90 Pennvannia
thay are now fore
mile from hear I
am tolde giv my loov
and respects to them
your affectnet Husband
William Band