Camp of the 83rd P. V.,
Hall’s Hill, Va., Jan. 14, 1862.
Dear Friend P—s.:—
You inquire about our probable stay here in this camp. I suppose you know just as much as I do about it or at least I know nothing and I don’t believe you know any less.
We have orders to be in readiness to march at an hour’s notice and have had this two weeks. Everything that we did not absolutely need on a march has been packed in our old knapsacks and sent to Georgetown. We are all ready and some think we will leave soon, but I am so skeptical that I don’t believe it. I do not know as I told you that we had got our new rifles. They are the Minie, the best gun made, and our boys are very much pleased with them. We are practicing at five hundred yards almost every day and make some good shooting.
The Westfield cavalry is still on the other side of the river. I think they have not got their horses yet. Conway Ayres (you saw him at Ashville) has been over to see me. He is the adjutant. I had not heard much about their health. Since we got into our French tents we have not had much sickness. There is little sleeping on the ground, as all or nearly all have bunks made of pine poles.
We have the most changeable weather I ever saw. On Sunday the air was warm as summer, and to-day we have two inches of snow.
How am I enjoying myself? Well, as philosophically as I can. We have rather dull times, but evenings we write letters or sing, and we have started a debating society with considerable interest.
