Fairfax Station, VA Jan. 7th

My dear Wife,

I had the pleasure of receiving your letter written the day before New Year’s last Monday night but thought I would not answer it ‘till my usual time of writing you, for I had written you an answer to most of it before I received it, which you probably have received before this, though I think I have written several letters that you never have got since we have been here.

I don’t know hardly what to write you, I would give you a description of our long march but it is so long since it would not be so interesting as it would be if it was of recent occurrence, but

Sunday night, Jan. 4th, 1863

Dear Wife,

I intended to write you a long letter today but we had a division review today which took most all day. We had one yesterday to prepare us for today. It was a grand sight to see so many well drilled men going through the different field evolutions. There was about twenty thousand men and eighteen pieces of artillery. Each brigade had to so all the others pass by in order, I suppose to give them confidence in their strength. At best it would have that effect, you yourself could not have helped feeling the influence of such a body of men all marching in solid columns with their banners waving and their

Fairfax Station, Va, Dec. 31

Dear loved Wife,

I have been to work all day (that is all the time I could get) building a hut. We have got it done and it is quite comfortable. We have a stove that Mark stole for us, now if we stay here we can live again and if we had a box or two from home it would not be mocking for you to wish us a happy new year.

I got the letter you wrote you me Christmas, I must have written you a very lugubrious letter from the way you write me now. I told you that we had nothing to eat but salt pork and hard bread, that was

Dear Wife,

It is Sunday morn, the sun has arisen clear and bright, the air is soft and pleasant as in June. The long roll has not beaten for a march yet, but we are awaiting orders. It seems a pity to mar the beauty of this day by military bustle but everything is changed here and before night it may be cold as erebus.

I should not close this ‘till we had orders to start but the mail closes and I might not get a chance to send it, so I will take leave of you for the present. If we don’t go I will write you tomorrow. Give my love to all, and many kisses to you and