Augusta County: John N. Snider to Kittie J. Snider,
March 17, 1863
Summary:
Snider, a member of the 14th Va., writes to his sister about bad weather and the
high food prices in camp.
Kittie J. Snider
March the 17 1863
Camp Near Salem
Dear Sister
I onse more seat my self to write you a few lines to let you know that, i am well and hope these few lines may find you all enjoying the same blessing of god, well, i have been looking for Brother Jas since last saturday but he has not came yet i was sure he would get here to day, he may come yet this evening for it is only one oclock, Bill Anderson came a few minutes ago so did Hugh Adams,
Well after i commensed writing Hugh handed me a
letter from you & Sarah & J. Horn, i was glad to hear that you
all are well Hugh says if James started yesterday morning he wont get here til
to morrow, we have had some very rough wether, last sabeth night
was very rough, i never heard heavier thunder nor seen sharper thunder in my
life it rained very hard til
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mid night and then got very cold, I was Corpel of the guard that night. they is still some snow here yet the roads is
awful bad, we are getting along very well we have good quarters and plenty to
eat now it was for one weak that we did not get no meet only what we bought our mess bought one side
of bacon and it cost us four dollars and thirty cts
apiece it was seventy five cts a pound we have the
half of it yet and the side that Jacob Anderson brought with him we are getting
plenty of beef a gain it is dried beef nearly al
[unclear:
ronds
] it is about right to make good stake, I can
beat the woman frying stake we get plenty sugar and
rice but we don't use the rice i wish i had a chance to send it home,
John Kirkpatrick & Davy Dice started home on furlo yesterday i don't want to go til we get our horses we have drawed
dried beef to do us til the midle of April so i think about that time we will get our horses.
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i got a letter from brother Wiliam
yesterday he wrote it the 10 & the 11 he is well he rote very little it is not worth reading i will send it to you, I
reckon you have a big time going going to old bucks to singing, I did not think
you would go up there you had better come out to our singing some night and you
will hear something that is worth listing at, well
we just heard that Capt Lackey has got home i hope
it is true and the rest of the boys will get home soon, we have preaching every
sabeth in camp, i think our Chaplin is a fine man his name is Crook, i believe, i have no more
news to write so i will close for this eavening.
pleas give my love to all the friend that think
withwhile of enquireing after me, i hope these few lines will find you all well write
soon and give me all the news tell Cousen John I will
write to him soon, i would like very much to send my old boots and a shirt home
tell mother i would
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like for her to make me a saddle blanket if she
can i have not had my comfort [deleted: on]
sence i came out i have most two
many cloths now but i dont
think we will leave here til we come home for our horses this leaves me well, i
will write as soon as James comes out, i remain your brothe
til death so good by to all
and may god bless and watch over you all is my sincier
prair.
John N. Snider
To Kittie J. Snider