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Near Fredericksburg Dec 7th 1862
Dear Mother
Old Winter is at last upon us, today is the first freezing day that we have
had it has been freezing hard all day and the wind blows hard enough to
take the hair off from a dog. My hair is pretty much all out so the wind
can't make much out of me. I would like to have you send me a small bottle
of Hair Oil such as you use I think it would be good for my head my hair
has been coming out for the last two months and I have not got any left. I
have been thinking for the last few days that we should not get much
farther this winter and you might was well put up a box of things now and
start them along. Smith Haight and Buck want some things too. I want about
8 or 10 pounds of butter some dried fruit or apples some ground black
pepper in an old pepper box a few good mince pies. I must have some mince
pies anyway can't get along without them, a little mess of black berries
would go very well a roast chicken or a piece of dried beef just as you
please about that. Put in a lot of Sausages. I came very near forgetting
that. Now look out mother and not forget them. I think they would keep
pretty good packed in lard. I would like one of your cotton comforters and
some buck wheat flour. I guess I will stop telling what I want for I could
sit here a half a day and name things over but I guess you could not send
them all so I will not name anything else. Charley Buck and I went up to
the station the other day to find his box but there has been no express
office established here yet so we could not find out any thing about it I
presume it will come along by and by. We walked along by the river for
nearly a mile The reb pickets were on the opposite side I could hear them
talk and laugh quite plain. I did not see an over coat among the whole lot
I guess they will think of home to day. I wish you could see the log house
that I have built this last week. I have got a fire place in it and a
chimney built of sticks and mud. It is quite comfortable to day. If you
could see it I think you would say that I am good for a little something
yet, have got some beans cooking for supper. I guess they will be pretty
good. We are drawing a few more rations than we did at first but do not get
near as much as we want to eat. The money you sent is a great help.
Hooker's grand division was ordered out for a review by Burnside yesterday
morning so we got ready and got out on the color line in the snow about
three inches deep when the order for review was countermanded. I think that
was the most sensible thing that Burnside has done yet. We called him a
bully boy and came back to camp a great deal better satisfied than we
should if we had been reviewed. Din't ferget to put up the box right away
direct the same as you do letters
Your Aff Son
CJ Hardaway
Put in a little soda and cream tartar
Historical Notes
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