U.S. Barracks, Brattleboro, Dec. 25, 1863.
Dear wife –
It is Christmas and here I am well and hearty. I have a little leisure and will improve it. Zopher has just called. He and Mary Ann, they have gone over to the hospital. There were a lot of Vermont boys came in to the hospital last night, I understand some from Columbia College Hospital. If there is any news from Jacob I will know before I close this. Zopher came in with the Charleston boys, staid with me night before last, and is going to stop with me tonight, going home tomorrow. Captain Brannon bought a lot of fine turkeys last night and the wherewith to stuff them, lots of pies and cheese, and he is going to let us have a Christmas. The turkeys are now baking at the bakery.
Well, I am a soldier, and shall say he is a bully Captain, he is that. I am in his office entirely now. It is much better than when I wrote for Mead, the Paymaster and Captain. Yesterday Lieutenant Moroney set at rolls. The Captain told him that he could not spare me and so I got out of that job. There are but few recruits coming in today. Yesterday there were 125 mustered, day before 84, the report today has not come in yet. Perhaps, you would like to know the number of recruits that have some in. Well. I have just counted the pages that contain their names. They are 34 and from 41 & 42 names on a page. That includes all that comes many are inspected, as many I should think as six out of a hundred, that is guess work. Could tell but had rather spend the time in writing this.
