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� Head Quarters Co H 10th maine regiment

   Fairfax station VA  January 7 1863
                                               Dear Wife

I will write you a few lines to let you know of my health wich is about the same as when I wrote last my feet and leggs are very lame by spells I am in hopes when this reaches you will find you and the family well as before I have been trying ever since I came back from [illegible] to get my discharge or a furlow but Col Beal would not consent to let me go my friends went to him and stated my circumstances to him and my standing in the company so instead of sending me home he presented me with a 2nd Lieut commision of Co H on the 1st day of the year dating back to twenty six days of September last which will help me to three hundred and fifty dollars back pay and a pay of one hundred dollars per month which I think was quite a new years present dont you I feel very thankful to him for it I entered upon the dutyes of that office the next day I went in to live with Capt and 1st Lieut and we got along first rate so far and hope we shall the rest of our time out and think we shall I want you to send me them shirts you made for me and two silk handkerchiefs and one more pair of good stockins and my