[upside down at top of page]
you rite often as you can
I will rite to you once or
twice a week

    the
Dec 24 1862
Camp Clingman nere Wilmington NC
Dear wief I seat my self
this morning to rite you a gane
this leaves me well hopeing it will find
you all well I have not got much
to rite we are still here at this
place but I dont noe how long
we will stay here but not long I dont
think for are ordered to keep three
days rashions all the time that
shoes that we will have to march [1]
some where soon from what
I can find out I think as soon
as tha commence fighting in va we
will go rite thare a kiteing the [2]
wether is exstremely cold now and
is cloudy this morning like it was a
going to snow if it does go to snowing
we will be in a bad fix our clothing &
cooking things will not be her befor
next sundey or mondey the day we got
to Wilmington thare was three large
steammers run the blockaid here I saw
[photograph of page 2 is defective]