[William L. Caldwell served as a corporal in Co. B, Mallett’s Battalion of Camp Guards.]

Camp Holmes March 25 1863

Mr R. C. Caldwell
Dear Brother
I avail my Self of the present
oppertunity of dropping you a
lines to Inform of my helth I
am in good health and fatning
Evry day the rest of our Boys
are all well our compny is in
helth the helth of the Battalion
is remarkably good at this time
Well Robert I have nothing of
importance to right at this
time we have good quarters
here and good old Bacon three
years old I Exspect from the
look and tast of it and
plenty of loaf Bread So we
will try to be Satisfied with
our condition knowing that
a greate many of our fellow
Soldiers fares not half So well
[page 2]
well we have been payed our
wadges I recived $13 per month
the privets recived $11 per month
that I think is poor pay for
aman these times when money
worth more twenty cents to the
dollar twenty five dollars would
not pay a Soldier but we will
have to grin and hold on
we have had some bad weather
last and this week but this
morning is favorable I think
we will have good weather
our colnel has got back to
our Battalion again but he is
able to do duty yet the 40
conscrips has been coming in
pretty Strong for the last week
we are sending them of as fast
as posable I will Close By
asking you to wright to W. L. Caldwell
and tell me all the news