Franklin County: Franklin Rosenbery to John Abraham
Rosenbery (father), January 10, 1864
Summary:
Rosenbery writes about receiving supplies from home and observes that it does,
indeed, snow in the South.
January 10, 1864
Camp Near Stephensville, Virginia
Dear Father:
Your letter of 4th and 5th came to hand yesterday evening. I was truly glad to hear from you. I am well at present-hoping that these few lines may find you all enjoying the same blessings of health-
I received Rachel's letter but your others I did not. I was glad to get them awls and Bristles and thread and needle. I intended that you should send me shoemaker threads but one of my messmates got a box sent from home and had shoe thread in it and he had a variety of provisions in it. He shares with us.
There is 4 of us together-William H. Wolff from Bridgeport, near Loudon, Solomon Dale from Centee County, Ben Bowlesboro and James Deckert. The rest of the mess have sent for stores so that they can share with Solomon Dale while he has shared with us.
I thought that I could have a small box made up for me as there is a great many boxes has come through to our Regiment by express. By being addressed the same as the letter-if you fix me up a small box tell Rachel to put some dry cherries-dry huckleberries, a crock of apple butter and a few pounds of butter. Some fat cakes as they will keep-that is if the fat is not too scarce-about 2 loaves of bread and get a bucket that is like that small one of mine-with the lid on-one that will hold a gallon. Fill it with sauerkraut and put in some cucumber pickles. We would like the bucket to answer for making coffee in. Dale's box weighed about 2 hundred pounds.
I wish to mention that you must not think that I am starving. I have enough to eat. But the rest have shared with me and I would like to give something in return. If some of the neighbors feel like helping to fix up the box it will be gladly received.
Put in some sausages-some pudding. Dale had roasted chicken sent to him. They were froze over night after they were roasted then packed up. Send some dry beef-some roasted chiken.
If they wish send some eggs as eggs are worth 60 cents a dozen here. Put them in something to pack them-with some corn meal.
Tell Rachel to put in some dry beans-that is those that were dried green-put in some apples-send a box weighing about 100 pounds more or less. You may do about this as you please.
Now at this present time, Aunt Sally Lincoln gives us biscuits. Only they are pretty hard on the teeth. It is a good thing to have a change.
You may send the box when it suits you. I for my part would not ask you to go to any trouble for me. Dale got his box a few days ago. Deckert got his box today. Willim H. Wolrff's box is on the way. They share with me. I feel like sharing with them. If you cannot send such articles as I mentioned...Send anything that is eatable for we are not choicy here or sneaken.
Now, about the weather. It snowed nearly all day on the 4th of this month as we are South as they call it. It still snows here and the snow is cold here too.
Tuesday we were sent out on three day picket. On Wednesday night it snowed nearly all night. You may guess how it goes to be out in the snow. 2 hours at a time without fire and when you are off of post and want to lay down to sleep you can lay down and let it snow on you. I tried it but the snow tickled my face too much to sleep.
We picketed along the Rappahannock River. Every 15th day comes my turn to go out on 3 day picket. It has been very cold for 2 weeks back. I must close for the present.
I will write soon again.
Farewell for this time.
Franklin Rosenbery
To John Rosenbery
