State of Va, December the
27 1864 Dear wife and
children it is with plesure
i seat my self this morning
to let you no that i am wel
hopeing when theas lines come
to hand they wil find you
all wel i have no news of
importanc to rite at this time
we are now 42 miles South
of Petersburg near belfield
station we are putting up
winter quarters we had
started to gordens ville but
we got orders to come back
i recon you think i have for
goten you all our male has
got regular that we
dont no what to do i hant
received a letter from you in
two weaks the last was
the letters you rote the 10 and 11
[page 2]
you sed in you leter that
you was sending to shool
i am glad to hare it send
all you can i cant rite much
this time i can tel you we
have hard living here we
get scant rashens dont get
enny flour cornmeal with
out sifing [1] i want you to tel
me how you are getting a long
and how the nigers is a doing
and all the children is a
doing i want to sea you all
mity bad i hant had a letter
from israel sence i got here
i dont no what is the mater
rite oftin and give me all
the news excuse my bad
riteing for i am too cold to
rite so i remane your true
frend untel death Franklin
Carline Setzer Setzer