Savannah Ga.

Jan. 15th 1865

Dear Parents;

I have just received your letter of Jan. 7th and was glad to hear from you once more. This is the first one I have had since yours of Nov., 14th. I haven't received your last letter of Jan. 2nd so I guess it has gone up. If there was any news in it please repeat it in your next. I haven't had a Standard lately. The last one was dated Dec. 7th. I wish you would send me a few as I haven't seen a New York paper since I have been in Savannah.

We are having very pleasant weather here. It don't seem much like winter. The nights are rather frosty but the days are warm and pleasant. Its like Indian Summer all the time. We can see plenty of flowers in some of the gardens in the city. What do you think about that in the middle of the winter ? The citizens here say that there hasn't been any snow here since the winter of 1860, and then only about an inch.

Some of the merchants have opened their stores and business is going on again just as though the Yanks wasn't here. They used to charge some pretty big prices until General Geary established a list of prices that they could charge. I sent you a paper with the list.

All of the troops around here are under marching orders, our division the same as the rest. Our Brigade is doing the Provost Duty so I don't know if we will go with the rest or not. If we go I think I will have a chance to see Charleston, or what ever is left of it after its taken.

The 3rd regiment is having easy times. We have good quarters and light duty. The citizens say that the city was never more orderly than it has been since we have been guarding it. Nearly all the inhabitants are, or pretend to be Union, but the Yankee Bayonets will convert most anything or anybody. I expect that Charleston will be a good Union town before long.

The 149th had a grand ball at Oglethorp Hall last Friday night. There were about 200 tickets sold at $3 apiece, so you can see that the city of Savannah ain't much afraid of the Yankees. I was on duty that night so my poor feet go without being shaken.

I suppose that quartermaster Summers writes to the Standard the same as usual so of course he will give a better account of what is going on than I can.

You wanted I should write whether I wanted a commission or not.  I do not want any. There is no vacancy in the regiment. There are three men in the regiment that have their commission and cannot be mustered in because there is no more room for officers. I had rather serve the rest of my time carrying my musket. After the 18th of next September I will think about it.

You wanted to know what I think about Mr. Chambers offer. I think their land was worth $100 an acre before the war and it should be worth $100 now, and nothing shorter.

Since I commenced writing there was another mail call. I got two Standards, Dec. 21st, and 28th, a package of paper and some envelopes but the other letter has not come around yet. So please give me all the local news when you write next.