.NDY.NDAz

� 58 At Rappahannock Station Va [on this page the headings are the same color pencil, not a light grey]

January 1st 1864 This fair sunshiney morning commenses the new year. I wish it a happy new year to all my friends and relative. I also with it a successful new year to the union armey and navy. I wish a happy new year to all who is true to the union cause and those who have good true frien-ds in the armey or navy, and hope this present year will bring them home to their friends and firesides. We wer now in winter quarters in a peaceable place for the purpose of guarding the government property and doing guard duty in the rear. Soon a detale was made to go to our own state of Maine to recruit for our regt and I was detaled for one on special duty which of course was agreeable to a soldier that had been absent from home and friends for