Franklin County: Thad Donely to Henry A. Bitner, January 7, 1863
Notes
Jan. 7 1863
Camp near Falmouth, Va
Dear Brother
I take this oppertunity to write you
a few to let you no that I
am well and get
along well their is not
sine of a move at
this time the
weather here has been fine.
yesterday
their was some rain but
did
last long.
I received John letter a few Days ago
I though
I was
not
going to get any word from home
and was much peased to
here and
was
much obliged to John for [deleted: for] the stamp and
sheat of paper I
cant neathe
paper or stamp
here and I want you to write and send them
to me accationaly
I can by paper at 2 cents
a sheat I think I can't
stand them prices well
their was some talk a few days ago of our
being
sent back to Washington
but I think
their is nothing of
it if whe are
moved it will
be towards the river
it takes a good Deal
of figering to live here as the
feed is hard
to eat but by taking cair
in the cooking
whe still make it go down.
If I had som
[page 2]
of the apples that are at home I would have
some fine
dishes of saws and apple
fliters I
have been very hungry since I have been here
by time but I think I will be able to
see it
through
as their is but about 3 & 1/2 months
[unclear: illeg.] has just been here and say I
shall tell you he is will but [unclear: times are
tuff]
and sends his respects to all is
a good thing
the health of the
company is
good thare have
been [unclear: some] of thoes
sent to the hospital
that have been sent on [unclear: here are going at]
convalesant camp at
Alaxandria. I hope
they will stay their
as the hardships is hard
to get through and their is
more in the company
[unclear: that wants to go home].
I suppose you have been
enjoying yoursalf fine
but if their
is no more snow their
than their is
here the sleigh wont
mount to much this
Regt
is very much cut Down at prisant
their
is but [unclear: 315]
men in it my
paper is most full and I must stop
I got some Tobacco seed
whe 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 a
year
Their was some talk
that
in camp that this Brigade
would be sent back but their has
been nothing said the last few days so I dont think
their is much in
it I [unclear: wish]
whe would go back
a piece for their would be some chance
to By something to
eat their is no chance
to get
any thing here neathe
paper nor postage stamps
as you will see this is ritten on an old piece
of copy book that was picked up [unclear: [illeg.] main]
and if I have to maile this and leave you the
postage to pay you must excuse me
or else
I [unclear: [illeg.]]
[unclear: change our position]
Their
is several that I would like to write to if I had
the paper their
is no sutlers supplies alowed
to be shiped
as the armies is so large that it require
all the transportation the government can raise to
bring up supplys their
is no much chance for
a forward move from here as the Rebels seam to
bee very well
Situated on the other side of the
[page 4]
the Rappahanook
is but a Small river some
paces it is so
shalow that it
is easely
forded
the pickets talk to each other from the banks
of the stream their
is no firing amonkst the
pickets but a few evenings they
wer Driven in
which put the officers on their gard I
think I will stop
writing about the
armie and tell you that what part
of Virginia [added: I]
have seen it looks offel
hard it is
nothing but a lot of hill and the
poorist land I have
most ever seen their is a
great deal of this scruby
Pine and seder grows here most all the farms
are vacated the inhabitants gon
south with the
exception of some few Negros that are
scatered about
I wish I [deleted: who] could have been at home to have
tended 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 new
and let me no how the singing is
[deleted: going]
geting along
I wrote to David Early some time ago
have
not herd 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
Excus
all mistake as it is the best I can do
under
the surcumstances Dont
forget to give me a hole sheet
full of news
[1]
Adres
Washington D.C.
130 Regt
Co D
PV
[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.
