Franklin County: Thad Donely to Henry A. Bitner, January 7, 1863
January 7 1863
Camp near Falmouth, Virginia
Dear Brother
I take this opportunity to write you
a few to let you know that I
am well and get
along well. There is not
sign of a move at
this time. The
weather here has been fine.
Yesterday
there was some rain but did not
last long.
I received John letter a few Days ago
I thought
I was
not
going to get any word from home
and was much pleased to
hear and
was
much obliged to John for [deleted: for] the stamp and
sheet of paper I
can't neither
paper or stamp
here and I want you to write and send them
to me occasionally
I can buy paper at 2 cents
a sheet I think I can't
stand them prices well
There was some talk a few days ago of our
being
sent back to Washington
but I think
there is nothing of
it. If we are
moved it will
be towards the river. It takes a good Deal
of figuring to live here as the
feed is hard
to eat but by taking care
in the cooking
we still make it go down.
If I had some
[page 2]
of the apples that are at home I would have
some fine
dishes of sauce and apple
fritters. I
have been very hungry since I have been here
by time but I think I will be able to
see it
through
as there is but about 3 & 1/2 months
[unclear: illeg.] has just been here and say I
shall tell you he is well but [unclear: times are
tough]
and sends his respects to all. It is
a good thing
the health of the
company is good. There has
been [unclear: some] of those
sent to the hospital
that have been sent on [unclear: here are going at]
convalesant camp at Alexandria. I hope
they will stay there
as the hardships is hard
to get through and there are
more in the company
[unclear: that wants to go home].
I suppose you have been
enjoying yourself fine
but if there
is no more snow there
than there is
here the sleigh won't
mount too much. This
Regiment
is very much cut Down at present. There
is but [unclear: 315]
men in it. My
paper is most full and I must stop.
I got some Tobacco seed
when I was out in picket
the other Day I will send it in this and I want you
[page 3]
tents which are some protection but the
weather has been
fine. I think I
never
saw such good weather this time of
year. There was some talk
that
in camp that this Brigade
would be sent back but there has
been nothing said the last few days so I don't think
there is much in
it. I [unclear: wish]
we would go back
a piece for there would be some chance
to buy something to
eat. There is no chance
to get
any thing here neither
paper nor postage stamps
as you will see this is written on an old piece
of copy book that was picked up [unclear: [illeg.] main]
and if I have to mail this and leave you the
postage to pay you must excuse me
or else
I [unclear: [illeg.]]
[unclear: change our position]
There
is several that I would like to write to if I had
the paper. There
is no sutlers supplies alowed
to be shipped
as the armies is so large that it requires
all the transportation the government can raise to
bring up supplies. There
is not much chance for
a forward move from here as the Rebels seem to
be very well
Situated on the other side of the
[page 4]
the Rappahannock
is but a Small river some
places it is so
shallow that it
is easily
forded. The pickets talk to each other from the banks
of the stream. There
is no firing amongst the
pickets but a few evenings they
were Driven in
which put the officers on their guard. I
think I will stop
writing about the
army and tell you that what part
of Virginia [added: I]
have seen it looks awful
hard it is
nothing but a lot of hill and the
poorest land I have
most ever seen. There is a
great deal of this scrubby
Pine and cedar grows here most all the farms
are vacated the inhabitants gone
south with the
exception of some few Negros that are
scattered about
I wish I [deleted: who] could have been at home to have
attended singing the
last three evenings as they have
been fine and I suppose you had a good
time.
I want you to write to me and give me all
the news
and let me know how the singing is
[deleted: going]
getting along
I wrote to David Early some time ago
have
not heard from him
yet. My paper is most full. My best Respects to
your
Parents and all that inquire
and I Remain
yours Truly
Thad Donely
Excuse
all mistake as it is the best I can do
under
the circumstances. Don't forget to give me a whole sheet
full of news
[1]
Address
Washington D.C.
130 Regiment
Company D
Pennsylvania Volunteers
[2]
Notes
[1] This postscript was written upside down in the upper
margin of page 3.
[2] This postscript was written upside down in the upper
margin of page 4.
