April 11, 1863.

Dear Mary,-

Two weeks and three days since my arrival here and have received but one letter from you and that was in answer to my first. I think there must be some on the way, for I am sure that you have not neglected me. I have not been very well for a few days. My liver has been the trouble. I have been attended by Dr. Kennedy. I have not been out on duty but once since my return. There is plenty of office work for me and the captain has me do it which will save me from exposure until I get stronger again.

April 12, 1863. I had only commenced a letter to you when the mail arrived and sure enough that long looked for letter arrived and I postponed my writing until I should learn if there were any questions to answer and it was well I did as I might forget them before another writing. I am feeling better today and am left alone in Camp as all of the Company went out on picket. The Captain thought I better not go or expose myself until I am stronger and as it is the Sabbath I prefer quiet. It is a lovely Spring morning,- the air is much softer here than at home. It does not feel as if it came off of snow banks. I feel like going out and basking in the sun and I think it will do me good. There is no dampness in the air. We are in winter quarters in the same Camp as when I came here. Our hut is about ten by twelve feet on the ground, built up of logs about six feet high notched in the ends so they almost touch each other and filled in with mud and the top covered over with canvas wedge fashion, which gives light enough and makes it warm when the sun shines. When it is not warm enough we make afire in the fireplace which is at one end of the hut. It is built of stone and mud and the chimney is built of sticks out house fashion and plastered over inside with mud or clay. The door is made of slabs split out of pine logs and pinned together and hung on wooden hinges, all very rustic indeed. Our bed is made by driving four crotched sticks in the ground leaving them about as high as an ordinary bed, then we place a stick across from one to the other resting them in the crotches. Then we place small round poles lengthwise from one to the other which forms our mattress, then we spread two blankets over them and have two blankets to spread over us with our overcoats for pillows. We sleep like the styles family except heads and points. We are three in a bed. We have a good cook and can buy good food here, each one paying his share of the expenses. We get good ham, good fresh beef, fresh fish, oysters, potatoes, onions, apples, soft bread, small crackers, cakes, tea, coffee, sugar molasses, condensed milk, salt pork, bacon, vinegar, salt and pepper,- no butter.

On the 10th inst. there was a review of the 12th Army Corps by President Lincoln and General Hooker. As the parade ground was a mile and a half away I did not feel that I was able to go and did not see it, which I regret very much.