Letter dated October 1st, 1863
Oct. 1st 1863
Dear Ett,
I got your letter and I will answer it now. I am glad to hear from you and that you was all well. I am perfectly well, I am first rate. I have to stand guard every other day, as you will see by the leaves that I will cut out of my book and send to you. That will tell you better than I can write you all the news and I don't have time to write much now; for half the time I am on duty, the other half it takes to keep clean, do my cooking and sleep. I have plenty to eat for I am getting fat as a pig. We have hard crackers and pork and beef and plenty of it. We have 2 or 3 small onions and 1 or 2 potatoes a week. Sometimes we get soft bread, it is good but the most of our living is hard tack and pork and beef and coffee.
Have plenty of coffee and sugar, if we will make it with no milk. You needn't send me any clothes. I can get clothes enough here but they are not like those at home. I picked up a new flannel shirt here the other day; a good one too. I have enough to keep warm. It is warm here in the daytime, but very cold nights. You must give my love to all my friends there and tell them to write to me and when we get done with this guarding that we are doing now I will have time to write to them all. If we go into winter quarters I shall have plenty of time. There is no use for me to get away for I am as well as I ever was and they will keep a fellow in the hospital till they die.
No more this time so good by
write soon
W.W.vanAmber