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Near Farfax Station January 4,1863 Dear Parents We have traveled around considerable since I have last wrote to you. On the 2nd of December our division went on a reconnaissance mission to Winchester which is about 32 miles from Bolivar Heights. We started Tuesday and got back Saturday at noon and didn't find anything of the Rebs except for scouting parties of calvary which didn't want to fight. Next week Tuesday the whole corps consisting of about 20,000 men received orders to march on Fredericksburg to reinforce General Burnside. We started the next morning at daylight. Each man carried a piece of shelter tent about 5 feet square and were fixed so they could be buttoned together and after a long days march we would build a fire in front of them and then crawl inside to sleep for the night. Thats if we didn't lay awake for the night. The men all stood the march first rate. As for myself I don't think I ever felt better or enjoyed better health since we left Bolivar Heights. I don't know how long we are to stay here but I would guess not for long because this morning we had our gun inspected and our cartridges boxes filled with cartridges. I think this means march. I don't care how soon we go as long as we can do some good somewhere for I think that what fighting is to be done must be done this winter. A good many men are discouraged because of Burnsides defeat, but I for one am not. I think that the next three months will see this rebellion wiped out. In the first place our forces at the West under Grant and Banks will soon whip them good. Then the grand Rebel Army of Virginia will stand a poor chance I reckon. I got a letter from Amber yesterday. He writes that he has sold his tobacco. He got 20 cents for his old crop and 15 cents for his new. He had 1750 of the old and 2900 of the new. Andrew Stone was sent to the hospital at Alexandria yesterday morning a 5:00. He was taken by ambulance to the station and then by the cars to Alexandria. I think it would be well to let his father know. (he died of the fever on Jan 5, 1863). You wanted to know how we spent Christmas. The regiment was excused from duty. The woods outside of camp is full of rabbits so James Heines and myself took our pistols out to get a shot at some. After traveling 2 or 3 miles without getting a shot we came and made our supper of bread, bacon and coffee. We kept the pie tins you sent the mince meat in and we now use them to cook our meat. When we are not using them we get plenty of chances to loan them. Now our rations of coffee and sugar are plenty. We now get rations of fresh bread, fresh beef, and bacon along with rice, beans, and sometimes potatoes. On the march we don't get any rice or beans and have hard tack in place of bread. George Burches father came to see him this morning and is going to stop with us a few days. I suppose you have heard of Edson Fays death. He died at the Hospital at Harpers Ferry on the 20th. The surgeon at the hospital happened to see Capt. Seymor and that is how we found out about his death. Pleas write as often as you are of a mind to and send me some postage stamps. Oliver |
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