1862 December 10 Belle Plain Landing, Va. Plain Landing, Va.

Bell Plains Landing Va Dec 10/62
Dear parents
                 I have received three
letters from you since I wrote
to you and I thought to day I would
try and answer them although it
is under a great disadvantage that
I try to write  With your last
letter I received four post stamps
which was very acceptable to me
I have plenty of money for my own
use but stamps are hard to get for
the money here.  You spoke about
sending me boots and other things
I think it is not safe to send any
thing besides I do not need boots
at present our brigade is on detached
duty here and will be likely to stay
here all winter so we shall not be
exposed to the mud and snow by
mooving about and if it was otherways
the winter would be nearly gone
before you could send any  thing out
so that I could get it   I hope you

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will try and content yourself about
me and not worry so much  if I had
wanted any thing from home I should
have written to you in season so it
would do me some good we have
not been paid yet  they owe me now
almost six months pay  when we do
get paid I shall send you money to
pay Mr.Strout all up for the colt
then I hope he will feel contented
what people say about the property
at home does not worry me in the
least and I think they had better
save their breath to cool their broth
I was sorry to hear that Washington
was sick but I hope he is not dangerous
my health is good except my lame
back which remains about the same
I was very sick for three days with
pain in my back and hips so I
could not  rest in any way but I
am better now than I have been
for a long time. I received a letter
from Phebe and Rhoda Symonds and
if you see them tell them I will answer
their kind letters as soon as I can  if
you could know just how we have

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been situated for the past month
you would not think I could write
at all history speaks of the suffering
of our army at valley forge and if
Bell plains is not equal to it I hope
never to see an equal to it  when I
write again I will try and give a
description of it as near as I can
We had a feast for thanksgiving
consisting of tripe mainly  we
boiled it in lye first and it took
all the strong taste out and it cleaned
very easy and it was very good
I can tell you  we have enough to
eat drink and to wear such as it
is but I think very often how
good a dish of bread and milk
would taste such as I could get at
home but it does not worry me
in the least  I take every thing
as it comes thinking all is for
the best and I hope it will turn
out so in the end I am still on
guard at head quarters but I do not
know how long we shall stop here
Bell plains is on the Potomac a little
way below aquia creek and near the

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mouth of the Rappahannock
river I have not recieved any
letters from Washington and it is
no use to write to him as long as
he is in the hospital  the hospitals
at Alexandria are good ones and he
will be well taken care of  when
you hear from him try and let
me know for I am anxious to
hear what the matter is with him
I cannot write any more now
and must close try and be
contented with this and I
will write again soon
                         From you son
                         Hiram M. Cash
I think there is no doubt but I
shall get all your letters in time
so you can write all you wish to
and I want you to write all
the news there is stiring  we have
just got orders to march to
morrow morning but I do not
know where we are going  I
shall write again as soon as I
can  in haste   H.M. Cash

Hiram M. Cash, Co. K, 5th Maine

MSS 12916