p.

Head Quarters 3d. Div. 6th Corps
March 20th 1863

My dear Mother:

Thy letter of a late
date was duly received and as usual,
deserved an immediate answer. I am
still well and enjoying my new duties
here very well. I got a letter from Ann,
last night; she is well too, so I need not
repeat her news items, for she will do so, to
you all before this reaches thee. A day
or two ago I got a good long letter from
Mrs. Payne: she is cooking for her son
who is [Settling?] among the Troops in
and around Washington. She makes
alone, from fifty to one hundred Pies
daily, to sell, and the cakes crackers
&c. he buys, ready made. She is one
of my best friends, I think, and I shall
ever remember her kindness to me, last
summer, with gratitude. She expects
a position in some one of the Govern-
ment Offices for herself and daughter,