1861 Nov[ember] 10 Camp Franklin Va.

Dear parents

it is a very pleas-
ant day here to day and we have
nothing to do I thought I would
buy a paper to send home and
write a line. I sent some
money Saturday to you and
if it reaches you I want you
to write as soon as you can
and let me know if you get
it. You will get it by next
Saturday if you get it at all.

We have had frost here a
number of nights but two of
us make our beds up together
and we have seven

[page 2]
blankets to keep us warm
3 rubber and 4 woollen ones
and we are as comfortable as
we should be at home on
the whole if I could be assured
that every thing was going
on well at home I should
enjoy myself better than
I ever did in my life it
suites me first rate. I thi
nk I shall have my picture taken
as soon as I can get out to the
city and send it home.

Yours in haste

Hiram M. Cash

[the following three page fragment was pinned to the above letter

if it is so I want you to let me
know it. I think you had better
hire someone to cut your winters wood
in the woods 8 feet long by the cord
if you can and get some one to
measure it try and do this if you
posibly can. I have felt as though
every thing was not very right at
home for some time I have had bad
bad dreams about home and it
makes me feel real bad but I
cannot help you in no other
way than what money I can
send you but as the saying is the
darkest hours are just before day it
may be so in this case bright days
may be in store for us yet it is best
to keep up good courage and awate the result

[page 2]
you spoke about taking a
paper of some kind I think it
well enough to if you want
to get the news but remember
and pay in advance for it.

I have been afraid that father
has told how our property stands
I want you let me know
if it is so Nov. 8/61

I should have written before
but we have been expecting to
be paid off since tuesday
every day and to day we got
our money and I send here
enclosed 20 dollars and I
want you to use it for
any thing you need and

[page 3]
what you do not need let it
go twords paying where we
owe. I have just recieved
a kind letter from you one
from Rhoda Symonds and
one from Mary E Strout I
want you to tell them I
am much obliged to them
for their kind letters and
as soon as I get time I will
write to them. We are all
well but Levi Robinson
he has got the jaunders
about the whole regt have had
them we call it the
yellows because they look
so yellow Yours in haste
Hiram M. Cash
Hiram M. Cash, Private, Co. K, 5th Maine
MSS 12916