Head Qrts3d Div Hospital} Camp near Winchester VaNov 20th /64My dear Wife

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Your letter of the 13th I have just read. I am glad and very much relieved to learn that you have received our darling boy's picture. I have waited long and patiently for an opportunity to send it to you safe. I was fearful of losing here my anxiety to get it to you. Take good care of it.

I judge by your letter that Lucien does not feel willing to accept the prefered hand of peace and friendship. I must say that I am sorry that such is the fact, but I cannot do any more. I never gave any cause for such feeling therefore I can afford to be magnaminous.

You enquire what kind of weather we are having here? I wrote to Helen yesterday that the weather was very fine &c, but that it might change before morning and be very cold and disagreable. Well it has changed

and we are having a wet cold raw day, and as I write my hands are cold and purple and my toes ache with the cold, which by the way can be accounted for, as my stockings want toeing out, and I have not another pair to put on. It is a little rough but I wont whine. I'll make the best of a bad thing. But I do feel very ugly when I am suffering for the ordinary comforts of life to think of those informal scoundrals at home who are exulting over our discomforts.

You think that when our wounded are gone we should have but little to do, but this is a mistake. More are being taken sick every day, and each day increases the number to be taken care of. I have now in the Div Hospital about 25 patients, and there is something wanting every few minutes My work is not hard but confirming. I have many things to try my patience but by a little forbaran I get along very quietly.

I have the most trouble with those wha

attempt to play sick. And I can tell the moment I set my eye upon them, and you may believe they are careful not to fall into my hands the second time unless they are really sick, then I cannot do too much for them. When not engaged with the sick I find considerabl time to read. Dr Childe, Tabor, and myself have got together quite a lot of popular novels and with daylies we make out to worrie the day through. As for eating we get along very well. We had for breakfast this morning, fried oysters and sweet potatoes. You speak of thanksgiving, now my dear Wife it is my sincere wish that you make a thanksgiving, just the same as if I was there. To know that my dear family are having and enjoying this time honored feast will give me greater pleasure than all the luxuries of N.Y. market could give. The children will expect it, and I want them to learn to honor this institution. I know you will miss me but in the fullness of your hearts thank God, that, though absent, I am spared to

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