November 24, 1862

On picket near Salem

November 24th 1862

Dear Wife:

Your letter of date November 10th I duly received November 23 and was very happy to hear from you and that you was well and all the young ones.

I wrote to you November the 11th. Sarah we are on this side of the Rappahannock River. The reb[el]s in sight. We intend to have a fight every minute a city called Fredericksburg. The reb[el]s is about one hundred and fifty thousand strong.

I have seen all the boys in 5th Oneida Regiment. Thomas Sayers was over to see me. He look first rate. Dan Blanchard the boys all see them Bryden. On the march you wanted to know if Wallace was in our Company. He is and been sick better now. He is a damned mean shit. I don’t have nothing to do with him at all.

I guess you and Tom Cacket likes to a work together first rate. You can boss him better than you can me.

We have got all the clothes we want and more too as soon as we got to our Regiment, but not the 13 dollars that Jim Brunson said we was to get. We have not got paid of yet and don’t know when we shall. You had better send me one dollar in the next letter. I received the $2 dollars you sent. No more stamps at present; tobacco is very high. I pay 50 cents a plug for it what they sell it for at Clinton 4 cents. I will have enough to last me ‘til you send more.

I am well and hearty and I not been sick. I only weigh 161 ½ pounds. Fat as a little whale. You had better get out 8 or 10 logs this winter 15 feet long.

My best respects to all not forgetting yourself, with best wishes for your welfare from your true husband,

John Bryden

One of our boys is coming home he has got his discharge. Ben Skinner from near Hampton. He is going to see father.

Send me all the news from home. My love to the little children.

John Bryden, Jr.

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