1861 Nov[ember] 16 Camp near Winchester

Dear Aunt

I take my pen in hand to write
a few lines to let you know that I am
well and enjoying myself very well at this time
and I hope when these few lines reach you they
may find you also enjoying the same blessing
I have not received any answers to the last
I wrote you some four weeks ago which
made me think that it has not arrived
at its proper place; there was so many different
ones carried letters to the post office that there
was a good many of them never got to the
office. I heard of Uncle Johns death through letters
from home; and it surprised me greatly as I had
not heard of his being dangerously ill but we
have good reason to believe that our loss is his
eternal gain. We are now camped near Winchester
in a flat piece of woods mud about shoe mouth
deep; that is wherever it is tramped any: this week
has been very rainy, and now it is spitting snow
and very cold our tents are a great protection
from the cold, and wind, but still not as much
as could be desired; during the storm of last
friday two weeks there was not more than a
dozen tents left standing in the whole regiment.
the wind was so strong it carried them off

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as fast as they could be put upp. you ought
to be here to see us cooking; making bread and
pies too! we get better bread sometimes which
comes in very good; we get plenty of sugar and
coffee, and beef of the very best sort: butter is selling
at from 25 to 50 cts a pound in Winchester that is
of a good quality: eggs is 25cts a dozen, cabbage is
selling at from 10 to 15 cts a head, according to quality,
apples 25cts a dozen, and every thing else in
proportion. yesterday was fast day and I suppose was
as well kept in the camp as it was at home.
our side was issued that there should be no
drilling and no other duty except that which could
nob be dispensed with and we certainly did not
eat much because they have it in their power
to withdraw our rations and keep it from us:
there was preaching here by some strange preacher
but I did not hear him as I had just come
off guard, and was wet, and cold; but I believe
he preached a very good sermon. We are expecting to
move away from this camp, but I do not know
whether its is to town or not we expect to take
winter quarters in Winchester but I do not know
how soon we Will get them. I must now draw
my miserable scroll to a close; as it is getting
late. Give my love to all Uncle James family
Aunt Ann, and receive a due share yourself.
Thomas A. Smiley
Direct your letter to Winchester Frederick Co. Va T. A. Smiley

Co. D, 5th Virginia Infantry

MSS 1807