Transcription

               Washington tuesday Dec 24th 1861

Dear parents

                I have neglected to write what trans

pired as it came along this week and a part of last

so I will tell you now as near as I can reccollect it

last wednesday it was pleasant and we drilled in the

manual of arms & the next day we drilled skermishes drill

to deploy as skermishers it was a new thing to us consequently

we had some fun over it  Some of the boys fell down

and the rest run over them the next day friday we drilled

in the saber exersise &c saturday we drilled in the saber

exersise Mr Fenton [?] came up to our camp and made

us a speech it was a grand thing I did not feel verry

well and did drill a part of the day but went to the

surgeon and got some medison I did not sleep much

saturday night sunday I grew worse and I did not get up

sunday to set up any Sunday night I was still worse

monday morning I throwed away the sergeons medison and

told the boys to tell him that I wanted to die a natural

death one of my comrads gave me some [coal?] and molases and

a little weak lye and to day I am out on duty again and

feeling quite well for the day before christmas I will just

wish you a merry christmas for the fun of it mabe you think

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Please do not let any body see this