150 Years Ago (1863 12/28)

Dec. 28th.  I shall commence where I have left off, though before this you have probably seen Zopher.  he will tell you all about me and our company.  Amory Parker has been down here and left this morning.  I should have sent a pair of pants and blouse by Zopher, but they were not to be found when he was here.  I have just been to the barracks and hunted them up.  I am there but little by daylight and things get changed round there some.  The Pants have been worn since I took them off but they are mine for I found some nails and strings in the pockets, of course they were mine. Intended to have gone over to Hinsdale yesterday, but could not leave.  It was the most quiet Sunday that we have had since the recuits began to come in.  I have not seen Jo Brainard but once since he came to camp.  I had a pretty good chance to visit with Parker of any that have been down from the North part of the State that I knew.  It is snowing very fast now and looks like we should have a good bit.  There are 228 men to go off tomorrow.  Tell Zopher there are 36 for the 10th.  The Cavalry is filling up fastest.  I shall write to Uncle Porter tomorrow.   Charles Wilder has allotted to him $10. per month of his government pay, and will send some of the $75. that he gets here to him, so there is a chance for him to save considerable for his family.  If I had time I would get the boys to allot more than they do.  It is all confusion here all the time.  The companies here have a hard time, guard every other day and generally 2 sets of guards on the way to and from Washington all the time and it is hard work.  Oh, they are trusty men, but the State of Vermont obliges obout one half of them to serve for $13 per month.