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Washington tuesday Dec 24th 1861
Dear parents
I have neglected to write what trans
pired as it came along this week and a part of last
so I will tell you now as near as I can reccollect it
last wednesday it was pleasant and we drilled in the
manual of arms & the next day we drilled skermishes drill
to deploy as skermishers it was a new thing to us consequently
we had some fun over it Some of the boys fell down
and the rest run over them the next day friday we drilled
in the saber exersise &c saturday we drilled in the saber
exersise Mr Fenton [?] came up to our camp and made
us a speech it was a grand thing I did not feel verry
well and did drill a part of the day but went to the
surgeon and got some medison I did not sleep much
saturday night sunday I grew worse and I did not get up
sunday to set up any Sunday night I was still worse
monday morning I throwed away the sergeons medison and
told the boys to tell him that I wanted to die a natural
death one of my comrads gave me some [coal?] and molases and
a little weak lye and to day I am out on duty again and
feeling quite well for the day before christmas I will just
wish you a merry christmas for the fun of it mabe you think
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Please do not let any body see this