Rockingham County Va. January the 23, 1864

 Camp Near Harrisonburg   

 

My Dear Wife

I take the presant oppotunity to drop you a few lines to let you know that

I am well at presant and hope when this reaches you it may find you & the children enjoying the same blesing.  C. (Charles) W. Schooler has gotten a furlough and is going to Start home in the morning and says he will take this note to you and it is now dark and I have no candle and I am writing by fire light & a verry dul one at that we are just about done fixing up our winter quarters.  mr Fox and myself are tolerable well fixed and are living like fitting cocks.  we get milk & bread & cabbage & from the neighbours and have our washing done.  there are no one else in our tent but mr Fox & my self.  You must write soon and often for I would be glad to get a letter evry week from some of my dear friends.  you must give my best respects to Farther & mother and all the family and tell them to write soon.  you must excuse this badly

writen letter for I will try and do better nextime.  give my love to all inquiring friends and keep a potion for your self.  it is molasses that we ca11 soggum.  I will now close by remaining your kind and affectionate husband untill death   J. W. Watson

 

H C Fox sengs his love to you and all inquiring friends