I got this off another discussion group. I suppose we could all imagine the soldier one of our family writing this letter home at Christmas ....................... Happy Holidays...John & Linda Peterson, Ozona, Fl. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charleston Dec 24 1861 Dear Mother and Father Tomorrow is Christmas, the day for turkey eating and Merry making and I hope you will have a good time and enjoy yourselves. I did have it all arranged that I was coming home to take my Christmas dinner with you, but as it is now impossible I will write you a letter instead. Congress has ordered all Regts. To be fitted up and Sedgewicke will be our Col. And Capt. Spencer our Lt Cl. There are several candidates for Major, but I think Capt. Bodine will get it. Captain Spencer as Provost Marshal had to Superintend the Shooting of a solder for disertion, a day or 2 since. He was blindfolded, made kneel on his coffin. The Captain gave the signal by waving his handkerchief, and in a moment the poor fellow was in another climate, He deserved his fate. Since I have been paid off, I have been boarding at the Kanawha House, the largest Hotel in the place. Am only going to try it a week, in order to see how victuals cooked in civilized style taste. Another one of our co. died a week or so since his name was Henry Hyan he was from Louisville, Ky The Captain is going to give the boys a fine Christmas dinner tomorrow. We have had the most beautiful Sunshiny weather imaginable for the last 2 weeks. Something like May weather. The nights are fine and Moonlight. Our boys have seized on all the liquor they could find in the town, and arrest every Solder without a pass and everyone, either with or without a pass after dark. So that the town has become in a measure quiet, and the ladies indulge in an afternoon promenade occasionally- The most of them are Strong "Secesh" The other day as two of them, finely dressed, were walking along, they has to pass directly under the fine Silk flag the Woodward Girls presented to us. One of them said " I'd rather die than pass under that flag!" So they waded through the mud, and took the other side of the street. The weather has changed today, now it is very cold trying to snow, and the wind howling like a hurricane, I am glad it is snowing for it doesn't look like Christmas unless it is Snowing or there is Snow on the ground To be in time. I will wish you now " A Happy New Year" and May you all live to see many of them. Mr.Folger, Mr Gibner, Mr Tounley and Mr Camenn came upon the last boat and brought up a large number of boxes for the boys, and fruit cake, pound cake plus other Christmas daintes are as plenty as blackberries in July. Pies are made here by the Darkys and sold for 10 cents apiece and washing is done by the same individuals for 5 cents apiece. I got papers here only a day and a half old from Cincinnati. The news in the last paper is very incouraging. Kitty has just made arrangements with a darky woman to have our cooking done. We are to take our rations to her house, and she will cook them, and set the table in the house and allow us to eat there for 25cents a week, each (there is 12 of us) Many of the residences here would compete favorably with those on Mount Auburn. Nearly all the owners however are "Secesh". In one of the deserted houses I got a splendid Beauraw, (is that spelt right!) With mirror attached 2 chairs and a wash stand and basin, for the Captains office, I haven't rec'd a letter from you for nearly 2 weeks . Give my respects to all inquiring friends. Frank