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This is a letter from John Kelly of Col Porters Commissary Subsistence Dept
The penmanship is a little squirrely, but, with patience, it is decipherable. It's a letter to his friend Dan. The first two pages are mostly small talk about his girlfriend Amy, and receiving or not receiving letters from friends and family.
On the third page he speaks of longing to be home "at that fireside where we have no cares," and goes on to describe his encampment. "A. Creek is on the Potomac River, and all you can see here is tents and wooden buildings. There is neither town nor village near us, but there is good fishing here. I run out every night and fish and catch plenty. That is how I spend my night times. Our Quarters is a large wooden building. You can sleep on the soft side of a board(?) if you have no blankets. There are six bunks in each room. Dear Dan, my back has pained me for the last ten days. I feel it now worse than when I was wounded. I still have that saber bayonet yet for you in New York, if they do not go through my box while I am away and take what is in it out, and Dan if I go to New York I will see whether (?) forgot that letter and perhaps I would make him pay dear for it. Col. Porter is in charge of all the C. S. Dept. What C. S. Dept. is is Commissary of Subsistance Department. And why I do not send Col. P.'s Christian name is I do not know it, but it matters not. Dear Dan, I think you and Amy is "on for a term(?)". She always sends her love to you and she says she thinks that I care more for you than what I do for her. I sent you a bit of her letter.....but if matrimony got into my head I would have her before one with thousands. She is about 18 years old. we had a awful battle on Fri., Sat., Sun., Mon., and Tues. I was looking at our army taking F'burg on Sunday, the finest sight I've ever seen in my life. I had a splendid view. (Fredericksburg was indeed taken on Sunday, May 3rd, 1863.)
I have little enough ink, so I will say no more, but I hope to try my hand fishing on Virginia Shore. Give my love to all.
John J Kelly, c/o Col. Porter's C. S. Dept., Aquia Creek, Va.
