Envelope

Miss M. J. Spafford
Upper FallsVermont

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Army of the PotomacCamp Griffin Va.January 21st/62My Dear Sister

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I wrote you a few days since, but as I then wrote that I was sick I thought prehaps you might feel anxious about me so write to night to let you know that I have entirely recovered. I was troubled a few days about eating in account of sore jaws but to night I am perfectly well. I have not been on duty since I was first taken and I shall not for some days yet. Barrett is acting in my place, says he had rather be on Picket all the time than be an Orderly Sergt.

Henry Spafford left for home yesterday, on a two days

furlough. If I could get a furlough I should do so, but tis impossible A man must give some reason for asking one, either sickness at home, or sick himself, and then he can run his chance of getting one. You see I have no ground on which to get one. Of cours if you should write that father or mother, or yourself were very sick I should go about getting a furlough at once. Wilber Cady a member of Co. C. from W. Windsor will start for home on a furlough as soon as we are paid, don’t know when that will be. only saw Hen S- a moment after I knew that he was going home so did not have time to send any word or any thing. you will probarbly see him so he can tell you all about us. It has been raining here, steady

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for a week or so, the mud a so deep it is awful getting around. A New York Regt came from Washington to this camp yesterday. The boys who saw them come in said they were a muddy drunken, tired looking lot of men as they ever saw. They said (our boys) that one of them told them he got drunk and lost his gun coming up, and said he “who blames me? none of us ever saw such going before We were as tired as man could well be and every time we got a chance we drank, there were men among us drunk, who never drank before” I do not doubt this in the least. Hyde Smith came in from Picket the other morning after being out through 24 hours almost steady hard rain and said he “Folks in Vt have no idea that a man could live through such a 24

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hours as we have just seen. My father would no more let his cattle be out so than nothing, &c.

The woman who came with the Regt still lives a tent just back of ours. – I still live with the Capt and shall for the present. We live well, and almost as comfortable as we could in a house. We have warm bisquit every day, beef sausage, &c. – I wonder why Oz don’t write me. Give my love to him, also to all the Felchville people. Tell Lyd if I can get time I will write to her and if I cannot I I wish she would write to me, and she can consider that I cannot and write imidiately and I will certainly answer. Give my love to all the people of Greenbush & vicinity. Where is Aunt Fanny now? Where Geo. B? have he & Carrie gone back. Tell Carrie I don’t think much of her she has’nt even sent me her respects since she came up, and there she & I got along all one fall with but one muff between us. – I have not heard a word from Alg Squire since

I left home I think it strange. If you only knew how we watch for letters here you would not fail to write often. You will see Hen Spafford and he can tell you all about us and the country about here. How does the time pass with you this winter, pleasantly? I should think you might enjoy yourself well. I recd the paper with Dan White’s letter in it a day or two since. You will not need to send me any more Vt Journals as Whitaker (Lucia’s husband) has them all from Brambles, and brings them to me before I get those from home. You can send me some paper as often, and always put a line in them. I must close. Good night write me often. Give my love to father & mother and accept much of the same from

Your Aff brotherJo.