[Undated, probably mid December 1863, mentions her letter of December 7, starting building winter quarters, Tom to invalid Corp, Camp at Bealton Station which is location of December 25 1863 letter]

Camp at Bealton Station Va

“Dear Clara

I Received your letter of Dec [1 or 7?] last Evening & was glad to hear that you was all well I am Sorry to hear that you have got a Bad Cold I am afraid that you expose yourself to the Cold weather to [sic] much if you have not got Clothing enough you must Buy it Remember your health Before anything else without that you might as well be with the Dead I am in hopes that the sore on willies [sic] head wont [sic] amount to much we are now Building up win ter [sic- spanned two lines] Quarters in hopes that we Shall Stay here through the winter Yesterday they had the Report around Camp that gen [p. 2] Meade was Superseded [sic] But as a general thing it is not Believed we have got most tired of Changing [sic] our generels [sic] in the armey [sic] of the Potomac it Creates a great deal of disatisfaction [sic] amongst the men. Yesterday our old Capt Came Back he looks first Rate & he was Received By the Boys with a great deal of aplause [sic] he is a good man and I am glad he has Come Back I have Been to work to day Lugging logs to Build my Shanty for this winter I wish you could See the Shanty we have to live in here for winter it would suprise [sic] you and make you Laugh at the same time [p.3] But a soldier Can live in any kind of a place and I Believe Can endure more than any other person in the world. We have Been now for most a month past liveing [sic] on about half what we want to eat it Comes from their giving us those 8 days Rations & it was imposible [sic] for us to Carry them when they gave them to us & now they are trying to Make them up on us. By giveing [sic] us one day for two the talk is now that we wont get paid Untill [sic] next month on the acount [sic] of most of the boys not haveing [sic] anything Comeing {sic] to them they are Settling up the years Clothing account & that is why they havent [sic] any thing Comeing [sic] the last of this [p.3] month I will have a hundred Dollars Comeing [sic] to me you must take all you can get from other folks to get along Untill [sic] I can send you some Our Sutler Come here to day [sic] But the Boys have not got any money to Buy any thing [sic] with Tom went from here to go into the invalid corps But I must Close give my love to all of the folks and take good Care of yourself & little ones hopeing [sic] to hear from you soon I Remain yours ever & ever with love god Bless you all

Sergt P L Dumont

P.S.

Send me a little Black linnen [sic] thread in a letter