[no location noted, marched from Warrington closer to Fredericksburgh]

Thanksgiving Day November 27th 1862

Was sick again, getting better. Marched nearer to Fredericksburgh and now only 5 miles from the enemy. “I suppose I have gotten a pretty hard cold and have got the Ereysyplius [?].” Tom and Fletch led him to the hospital blind and with his head swollen twice its natural size, couldn’t see his eyes. Getting sight back. “We have had a great deal of wet weather down here and the north is losing more men by lying on the cold wet ground than they will lose in battle.” Can see Rebel camps and General Lee is in sight with 140 thousand men and won’t leave Fredericksburgh, has sent away women and children. Pioneers have gone ahead to fix the roads to haul cannon down to shell them out. Resignations include “Capt Cone and Lieut Smith of Co F Lieut Trueax of Co C and Lieut Wicks of Co R. Lieut Stanford is now in charge of the ambulance train and feels big over it because he has a horse to ride. Marched over 100 miles from Washington because they took a round about way. “You must know it was a hard one for me because I could never walk much I think the men will make good pack pedlars [sic] if they ever get home again”. He was lying in the hospital this morning when the mail came and he ran out and was disappointed not to get a letter from her. “I don’t know whether I shall be well enough to go in the fight when they get ready or not I will tell you the truth I have not seen what I could call a well day since I have been down here and what is more I don’t think I ever shall there is something down here that don’t agree with me at all I am all broke out I spots just the same as at Camp Seward”. Hasn’t done duty there or here. The least cold lays him up.

“To day we have got crackers and salt pork for dinner and they are all talking and wondering what you have got good to eat at home.”