1862 December 15 Fredericksburg, Va.

Camp In the Trenches
Dec. the 15/62

Dear Parents
It is with
Pleasure that I take
the present oppertunity
of of[sic] dropping you a few
lines to let you know
that I am well at
present hoping when
theas few lines Comes
to hand they may
Find you InJoying the
Same Blessing
I have no news o
importance to write
to you we have had
a nother hard Battle
at Fredricksburg we was
Successful and repulsed
the yankeys at everry
Point  we aer  still
at the town and had still

[page 2]
We Still Hold our
position and the Battle
field they air threatning
us with a nother attacked
wea we air well Fortifyed
and have about 150 pieces
of artilery planted on
the hights on this side
of the river we air shelling
each other continually
Some of the shells air
verry affective  we air laying
in sight of each othor
I expect we will have
a lively time to morrow
we will Be out on
Skirmish to Morrow
we was expecting a big battle
to the day But the day
has past a way with out
any fight  Our soldiers
air Confident of a
  nother Glorious

[page 3]
Victory we air have
been laying in a line of
Battle for four days,
we lay in our
entrenchments through the
day and Throw up Breast
works nearly all night
I am Getting verry tired
of the war I would
like to Come home
and See you all
I am in hopes this
Battle will decide
the war I have
not heard from you
for some time
I think if there ever
was a army struggled
for independence it
is the Confederate army
Some of us Bare footed
half necked and yet
we stand up to

[page 4]
to all the hard-
ships of war
But I hope god will
Crown our arms
with Victory
Now I must Bring
theas Few lines to a
Close you must
Excuse this Badly
Composed letter
So Nothing more But
Remain Your Son
Untill Death
            James B Painter
Write Soon direct
Your Letter to Fredricksburg
                Virginia
Good By

James Barney Painter, Co. K, 28th Virginia

MSS 10661