1862 March 9 Camp Franklin, Va.

Camp Franklin, Va. March 9th/62
Dear parents

It is a very pleasant
morning here it seems like a bright May
morning at home. Our Regt. has just got
through with inspection and gone to
meeting I was on home guard yesterday and
I do not have any duty to do to day and I
had a good chance to look on and see the rest
as they was being inspected, they had on
their knapsacks with one blanket an over
coat a rubber blanket and all the clothing
they need for a long march and two men
together carry a tent one half to each man
they are just large enough for two men
to sleep in or get into when it storms
the whole tent weights about 10 lbs 5 lbs to
each man to carry. The men also had their
canteens and haversacks on and I tell you
they looked nice. I have not much news to
write but since I wrote last I have managed
to get me paper enough to last me a long

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time so if you have not sent me any paper
you need not send any but I should
like to have some post stamps.
send me a few and if I need more
I can let you know. I was in a hurry
when I wrote to you last and I hardly know
what I did write. I should like to know
if you have got your pay for being adminis-
trator on that property yet and if not what
the prospect is of getting it. I suppose Mr.
Perkins will want to settle up for the
oxen this spring and we must contrive
some way to settle with him I want
you to let me know what you conclude
to do about it. I shall send home all
the money I can spare as soon as we
get paid off we may not get any pay
untill the first of May and if we do not
I shall then have about 40 dollars to send
home. I am anxious to hear how you dispose
of the farm this summer I do not want
you to let any one have the colt or wagon
to yuse on any account unless it is extremely
necessary.

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I want to know how much the tax was
the past year and if they have any thing
against me I do not want you to pay it
for they cannot get any thing of me I
want to hear about the proceedings of the
town meeting that will be held this month
and all the news you can think off to
write. I think you had better hire some
one to saw wood when you cut your spring
wood, Tewksbury or Frank Symonds
would be a good hand it will not cost
but little and will help you a good deal
I want to know what you have to pay
Frank Jordan for staying with you and
doing the chores. I was sorry to hear of
the misfortune of Cyrus Strout I think if
I was in his place I should not care to
live. We have not moved yet and I
do not know when we shall we may
not for some time and may move within
a day or two. We are all well except J
Spiller he is getting better but some
think he will try to get his discharge

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The health of this Regt. is quite good,
there is but a few on the sick list
We had a good time on picket last
week we had to stand guard two hours
out of 16 and had the rest of the time to
ourselves we had good places to sleep
so we could keep warm and dry I like
to stay out there better than I like
to stay in camp. I shall try to
write every week if I can I want
you to write every week if you can
find any thing to write about
As I have no more news to write
so I will close
Your Son
Hiram M. Cash
Tell Walter to be a good boy and
stay with you and I will bring him
home a smaller gun when I come
home

Hiram

Hiram Cash, private, 5th Maine Infantry

MSS 12916