Letter written by Henry Welch, corporal in the 123rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company K, to his father, mother, sisters, and brother from Camp near Fairfax Station, Virginia, December 29, 1862
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WASHINGTOND. C. (District of Columbia) (Washington, District of
Columbia)
[date
unclear]
Mr
Luther
Welch (Welch,
Luther)
North
Hebron
Washington
Co
NY (New York) (North Hebron, Washington County, New York)
Camp near..Fairfax..Station (Fairfax Station, Virginia) ..
December..29th..1862.. Dear.. Father (Welch, Luther) .. Mother (Welch, Luther (Mrs., Phebe)) ..Sisters..and.
Brother..
Once more I take my pen
to inform you how I am getting
along
I have not been very well for a week
or so but this morning I
feel like
myself again I have not been sick
exactly but kind a dumpish
like.
they send out scouts most evry (every) night
and as I liked the business pretty
well I volenteered (volunteered) to go I guess
that I went scouting a little to (too) often
I have been twenty four hours
without shuting (shutting) my eyes to sleep
and I find that it wares (wears) on a fellow
after awhile (a while) but I have had my
regular sleep for a few nights
and I am
all right again now.
last saturday night we were ordered
to be ready to march at light the next
morning and yesterday morning the
Brigade all marched excepting a few
of the sick they did not take thier (their)
knapsacks with them and only four
days rations they will be back at
the end of that time I was going
with them but the Captain said
that as I was not very well that I
had better stay and take care of his
tent and things while they were gone
so I have got quite a comfortable
place here and a very good place
to write. there was great excitement in
the camp last night a cavelryman (cavalryman)
come to the station his horse on the
keen jump with orders from
Gen' Williams (Williams, Alpheus Starkey? (General)) for evry (every) man to
have his gun loaded for there
was quite a large force of rebel
cavalry out side of our lines
but they were rideing (riding) towards
the station at dark they were
seen within five miles of here and
none of our forces this side of
them and you can judge that there
was some stir about it every man
the sick lame and the lazy had
his gun loaded as for myself I
had two my own and one that I
found in the Captains tent
and a revolver besides I ment (meant)
to empty them if we were
atacked (attacked) but we were not disturbed
it seems very lonesome since Philo (Philo)
and Smith (Smith) left us! poor Smith (Smith)
he is done with all his trouble at
last many a pleasant talk have we had
together in our tents when the camp
was all asleep talking of the pleasant
homes that we had left behind
us and of the good times we would
have when the war was over but
alas all is over with him now
news have just come in that
Sturts (Stuart, James Ewell Brown (Major General)) cavalry 35 hundred strong
passed two miles from here
they tore up the track and
took a few prsoners (prisoners) no one
knows where they have gone
they have gone north of here
but I must close by sending
my love to you all from Your Son and Brother Henry Welch (Welch, Henry)
Part: of 5 
