1862 December 19 Falmouth, Va.

Falmouth near Fredericksburg
                Dec. 19, 1862
                   Dear Phebe
                    I take this
opportunity to drop you
a line although I do
not know as it will
get to you owning tot he
confused state of affairs
There has been a great
battle which resulted
in the capture of the
citty not however until
it was nearly destroyed
the rebels fell back to
a position 3 miles back to
of the citty where another
battle took place after
fighting all day our troops
finding the positions too
strong fell back on the
citty and there the thing

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stands at present the
reserve was sent for
and we are here n full
force what is coming
next is more than I can
tell but we shall know
in a few days I cannot
write any more now
              Josiah

Josiah Perry, Co. K, 33rd Massachusetts

MSS 2215