Tuesday Feb 3.1863

Camp Near Bell
Plane VA
My Dear Wife I
tak this oppotunety
of wrighting A few
lines to you I
hope thay will finde
you All well as
thay leave us At
Present I Receved
your kinde and
welcome letter dated
the 29 Also your
Paper and was glad
to hear that the
old man was getting
much Better I was
glad to hear that
Ned Kay was so
well respected
[page 2]
The weather is cold
and raw to day
winter like we hav
not driled fore sevrel
days it was snowing
this morning it is clear
But cold In speeking
of your watch you
aught to get it changed
fore a Better on get
a good one if you
hav to Pay a littel
more fore it get
yourself a clock
to donte be afrade
of your money see
if you can By mee
one fore about ten 10
dollers and send it on
by mail I do not
want a fancey one
I want a strong one
to keep time
[page 3]
you want to
know how we
like the change
Hooker is a good
man but fiftey
thousand 50.000 is enough
fore him to handel
he is a fighting
man his men all
like him they think
he is the man
But I think he
no better than
Burnside Mcclellen
gave Better satesfaction
then aney other man
I think thare will
Be a change next
March when the
new congress meetes
thare seams to be A
Bad feeling betwean
the two parties Republic[an]
and Demecrat
[page 4]
I want you to send
mee a Direa [1] fore 1863
also a hankerchiff
those you sent last
ware not worth much
thar is no such thing
as likeness hear I do
no think thare is one
about I will send
you five dollers in
thiss letter Plese let
me know when you
get that sixty forty
of it is mine the rest
is your Bily giv my
loov and respects to
all your affectnate
Husband thanks
fore your carde
Wm Band