December 12, 1862
Dec[ember] the 9th
Dec[ember] the 9th 1861
Dear Wife:
I take the first opportunity of writing to you a few lines to let you know that I am well. Hoping that these few lines will find you the same enjoying good health as it leaves me at present.
I am going to tell you that it is very cold weather at present; as cold as it is in New York State and plenty of snow. It cannot be expected to march and lay on the cold snow. We have to make a large battle at Fredericksburg before [we] march any further. Our Brigade lies right in sight of it. We look right down on it. It is a very nice city; that is so. It lies on the Rappahannock River.
We go on picket all along the river and talk with the Rebels about the War. They want to have the thing settled and call it a draw game. I don’t think that the North can ever conquer them by fighting. You wanted to know what our Colonel’s name was. It is Colonel [Samuel K.] Zook[‘s] Brigade. It was [Colonel William H.] French’s.
Your letter of date Nov[ember] the 30th I received December the 7th and was very happy to hear form you and all was well. I got the money safe as it came in very handy as I was just out of tobacco.
Sarah, before I forget I want you to send stamps in your next letter, as this is the last one I have got. I wrote to Robert Edgar last week and want him to send me some tobacco. Which Edgar is it that Mary has got? I hope it is William.
How many pigs have you got to sell? I expect you have some good ones as you have had plenty of corn.
Sarah, I think we will get 2 months’ pay this week and I will send $20 dollars to you.
I am happy and contented as you please. No one to jaw me all the time as it was at home. First one and then the other.
No whiskey here. We have crackers and plenty of coffee and pork; that [is] all.
I spent Thanksgiving with Tom Sayers and Dan Blanchard. He has his best love to you and Mr. Blair. We had fried pork for dinner and crackers and coffee. We enjoyed ourselves first rate. I have seen George Thomas. He was over to see Tom the same day Thanksgiving; that is 5 miles from me. They all have their best love to you all of you there.
Well I have not seen a piece of bread in weeks. I don’t [want] you to mention any such things as you have at home. You only make me feel bad when you talk about cider, potatoes, [and] sausage.
Harriet will save a good deal of sausage by having me here. My best love to her and Mark and accept the same from your ever faithful husband. Write soon. Send the postage stamps. My love to the babies from yours,
John Bryden
Take care of your grain and wheat.
How does Lute get along? Tell him to be a good boy and I will fetch him [a] soldier’s cot.
Is the colts fat this winter or not? Have you sold Nelley?
Written in pencil on landscape-ruled rag paper, 8.5” x 10”, folded in half along the short axis to form a four-page signature. An engraving titled “Desperate Hand-to-Hand Encounter over a Battle” covers about 1/3 of the front page. It’s the only letter I’ve run across so far that features an illustration. It also includes the closest thing to a doodle.
The letter is dated 1861, but I believe it should have been dated 1862. John didn’t enlist until September, 1862. Aside from a march to Fredericksburg in mid-December, his Regiment wintered at Falmouth from about the middle of November, 1862 to April, 1863.
