Camp NEAR HARPERS Ferry Nov 15^th/62

Dear Wife     I received a letter from you last night was very glad to hear from you that you ware all well it found me well as useual you thought you could not tell what I should be about when I received it  I will tell you I was on guard in camp that day got your letter at half past five just as I was going on duty for two  hours  I therefore had to waite till I came off before I read it was well pleased with the contents of it  I should like to be round to get a bite at that pig but shall have to let you eat my share of it.  I wrote you in a letter day before yesterday what you had better do with the pigs, if you have not sold it yet  I would advise you to have it killed and salted in your pork barrel whenever you get redy to do so than you will have something to live on in case the time grow harder then what they are at presant, about bying beef this winter I think it will be cheaper for you to buy some buckwheat flour say fifty or a hundred pounds and live on buck wheat cakes instead of beef worke in now and then a little fish although if beef is not to high and you want some very much you can buy it if you like if you do not get any to salt get a piece for fresh now and then and for mince pies, you can get another load of wood if you think best before it comes on cold and slipery and have it all cut and split right away then you will not be bothered for wood when it coms bad weather, you must remember and look out for some hay in season so that the old cow will not go hungry you probibly will have to purchase about a ton to carry her through the winter in good shape; now a little about war we have been luckey enough not to have been brought into an engagement with the rebbels yet but there is a possibility of our having a brush with them at most any time as we are near by them there is some of them seen almost every day; day before yesterday as the major of the 123th N.Y. Regt was out helping station the pickets he road up to a house and dismounted from his horse and went into the house while he was in there it seams a gang of rebs was waching him for they fired at him through the door but missed their mark the ball passed through one of the womens dress then they mounted the horse and road him off so you see the major lost his horse and come pretty near loosing himself, Well Georgia I received a good nice letter from you last night was very glad to hear from you that ware all well I am well to day and hope when these few lines reach you they will find you all enjoying the same great blessing, you wanted to know if I was out on guard those cold nights I will say to you that I was out on picket from Tuesday untill Saturday Thursday Night was very cold indeed Friday Night was a most butiful time to stay out with nothing but the snowy earth for a bed with a poor fire to huddle around, Well my dear little boys what do you think of the pleasures your father enjoys out in old Verginia think of them and be contended with your lot  from your Husband & Father A.C. Smith

Copyright © 2009 Bruce E. Leandro. All rights reserved.