January 29, 1864 pg 5

[Letterhead] HEAD-QUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS,
.....186

down in somebody's cellar
kitchen and that "somebody" --
the dearest creature of her
sex -- pouring out hot
coffee and circulating nice
griddle cakes and asking
me with her sweet mouth full
of bread and butter to help
myself to eggs; -- to say
nothing of a little smut on
her angelic face and an
occasional dough-mark on
her lovely elbow. No joking,
I remember as one of the
prettiest domestic scenes
that I ever witnessed, your
little family gathering, the
morning I breakfasted with
you, and I said to myself
then, and have said to the same