1861 March 21 Camp Franklin

Camp Franklin Va. March 21st/62

Dear parents,
we are still stoping
at our old camp ground but we are expecting
to get orders to leave soon yesterday we
were reviewed by Gen. G. B. McLellan
our whole division was present I suppose
it was preparatory to our mooveing soon
in some direction but where we cannot
at present tell. Last night I recieved some
things from home one pare of stockings
with my initials on them and three other
pares two towells three handkerchiefs
one was a piece of gingham that I know
came from home a little bundle of fly
root woolen patches thred cotten cloth for
bandages and a ball of white and blue yarn
also four monthly Magazines and some
other things accompanied with a billet
written the 2end day of Feb. stateing I
must be carefull about eating mince pies

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fruit cakes &c. for fear of bringing on a
fever by change of diet I think
there will not be any danger of
getting sick by eating any of the
fruit cakes and pies for I have not seen
any such articles that was put into that
box yet and I guess I never shall.
All of the Raymond and Casco boys
got a similer bundle being a part of the
contents of that box we have been looking
for so long I suppose the agent at
Portland opened the box and took out all
the eatables and mad up a separate
bundle for each of us putting in
towells handkerchiefs footings books
and papers in the room of the fruit
cakes and pies that you intended we
should get some of the things come
very handy that we got I had plenty
of stockings so I sold three pare and
wait for my pay till we get our pay from
the government I have now got four
good pare of stockings and they will last
me a long time.

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I received a letter from you last
night and was glad to hear from you
but was sorry to hear farther was so
slim you did not say whether the
doctor thought he could help him
or not. If you think you can get
along without letting the place I
think it would be better for you
with what you can raise and what
money I send home you can live
upon it and get along well if you
have your health. I wrote to Susan
the other day and sent a little book for
Walter I told them you talked about
letting the place and if Edwin wanted to
take it to come up and see you but if
fathers health is as good as it was last
summer I think you can get along with
hireing some I think this will be better than
to let the place if you can get along so,
but you will know best what to do so
I leave it with you. Washington may
have my gun at any time if he will keep
it as clean as he can from rust inside as

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well as outside. I was glad to hear
Walter had got to be so large a boy
and can do so much work tell him to
take good care of the steers and calves and
make them grow as fast as he can If
that ox has got a wolf you will know
best what to do with him. I want to
hear the particulars about the town
meeting I want to hear from Cyrus Stroud
I do not want you to pay my tax at
any rate let it be untill I get home
pay the rest when you get ready and not
before. I want you to send me a darning
needle two or three coarse sewing needles and a
little thread you can send these things in a
letter with only one stamp it will not be
very heavy when I need any thing I will
write to you to send it to me I do not
think of any thing more this time so I
will close

Your son
H. M. Cash
My health is first rate I
weigh 150 lbs. without any coat
on the rest of the boys are as
well as usual

H.M. Cash

Soldier in the 5th Maine Infantry

"fly root" probably butterfly root, was used medicinally, both as a poultice and as a tea
MSS 12916