Camp near Potomac Creek VA

Friday December 16th [sic- should be 19^th?] 1862

Sketch he started of the bombarding of Fredericksburgh while it was happening but they got ordered across the river and he couldn’t finish it. They are under marching orders, some say back into Fredericksburgh, others say back towards Washington. He doesn’t think going back because old guns were replaced with new Springfield rifles and all sick and crippled were sent off to the General hospital including Tom and George Wheeler went with him. He doesn’t know where that is but some say Washington. “But the men don’t want to fight any more some of the Regulars are getting paid off.”

Says he can tell she didn’t keep her word to write every Sunday, feels bad she is lonely “but where is lotty and malley they cant all be going”. Many received food boxes and everything was spoiled, would like a box but she had better wait. All hope to go home in the Spring. Can’t wait to see her and dreams of little Ida almost every night. Perhaps she will never hear from him again if they go into a fight.