p.

solid, Military [underline]flesh[/underline]; my weight is
about one eighty, now which is an
increase of near twenty since I was
at Washington, and still on the
[underline]/increase[/underline]; I am in hopes that my
acclimating is over now and that
I shall bear the test hereafter well,
my appetite, usually [underline]good[/underline], as thee
well knows, is now really an embar-
rassment to me, though I smother
my feeling of embarrassment very
well, I think, so they are not dis-
covered by the [underline]mess[/underline]. I think
[H.?] A. is troubled in the same way
so far as acquiring flesh is con-
cerned; he has been over to see me
this evening, and we had a good
visit, as [underline]usual[/underline]. Before I go any far-
her I must wish you all a Merry
Christmas, though it may be
rather late in the day, before [underline]you
get[underline] the wish, still it is verry
heartily expressed, in season too.
The Box has not come yet, but I
suppose the only reason is, that
our Commissary can not get the
teams necessary to bring the ex-
press matter for the Reg. besides
hauling the Government supples.
A little more than a week ago, he
had four full, four horse loads drawn
for the boys of our Regt, which was
all there was at the station then
so, I think mine will come next
time, which will most likely be the

[page break]

last of this week; thee wishes thee
could have sent some bed-clothing
but I do not need it, so it is well
thee could not send it; there is a
large supply of such articles in
the Hospital store tent, and I have
the liberty of that dept. so I help
myself, and have an abundant
supply of quilts and pillows now.
When the things come, I will acknowl-
edge the receipt of them, immediate-
ly. The Stamps Mary sent came safe-
ly, and I should have mentioned
it before; I was not so poverty stricken
as to need the donation, though
they came into use very handily.
As for my [underline]blankets[/underline], they are not
used about the sick, at all, but
lay on my bed, as all well be-
haved blankets should. I got a
letter from James, to-night, but you
hear from him, I suppose, so I will
not, repeat it here. (If your weather
is like ours Aunt Mary is not there
yet, I suppose. We had a very few
flakes of snow, the other day, and much
rain, but now it is pleasant as need
be, and overcoats are a superfluity in
the daytime, though comfortable in
the evening, and the pickets find
them indispensable. Our sick list is
still growing less, and deaths are less
& less frequent, and I am happy to say
this is the case in nearly the whole
Brigade though the Sixth is still the
worst, and has lost more than any other