1862 December 7 Fort Tillinghast, Va.

Fort Tillinghast, Va., Dec 7th
(Sunday PM)
My Dear Wife,
                        I must say that I
was very much disappointed in
not receiveing a letter from you
last night, I have been, however,
repaid for the disappointment today,
Mr Edwards arrived here about an hour
ago, I could not make out who he
was, nor where I had seen him for
a long time, but as soon as he made
himself known tome, I recollected
him at once.  He brought me the letter
and mittens,  he also made me a present
of a box of cigars containing one hundred,
as nice as I ever saw, he must have
paid as much as two dollars and a
half for them, he appears to be a very
fine man, I had quite a conversation
with him, and I like him very
much, there were two other gentlemen
with him (Curtis and Tufts) whom

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I did not know, they were very pleasant
ad sociable,  The Mittens I hardly
know how to express (in words,) my satis-
faction and pleasure, I could express
them in deeds more readily,  to the
one who knit those mittens, I would
say, Please accept my most gratefull
thanks, I was very much in need of
them, and will endeaver to repay the
kindness at some future day, We are now
having some very cold weather, Last
Friday we had a severe Snow Storm,
I cleared away at night, cold, and very
windy, and has continued so ever sin-
ce,  Last night (Sat) was the coldest
night we have e er had here, I turned
in with all my clothes on, and covered
myself up with blankets and quilt,  I
managed to keep warm through the
night, I got up once or twice through
the night, however, and made a good
fire,  We have about two inches of snow
on the ground now, it is very cold

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today, and thaws but very little, We are
going to have another cold night, but
we can keep comfortable,  This you
know is the "Sunny South."  I don't
see it in that light, however, I wont
say another word about the mittens
I never saw a pair knit in that way
before, neither did any of my mess.  I
like them much better than the finger
mittens.  We had a good laugh over them
because one could get his fingers out so
handy, You can guess what we meant,
If you cant, I'll bet Esther can, you
may ask her and see, I have plenty of
the articles you inquire about Towels,
Stockings, and handkerchiefs,  About the
Boots, I don't think I can do as well by
buying my Boots in Washington, as you
can there, Perhaps your Father can
get a pair of Hip Boots down to Br-
acketts, if you hav'nt got them yet, I
would as soon have a pair of Hip as
Calf, if they are first rate uppers,

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I think there is a prospect now of
our being paid off this week, we sh'ant
get but four months pay however if we
are, if we don't get paid untill Jan
we shall get six months pay.   Lieut
Felch (of our company) was over to Wash-
ington yesterday, and he told me this
morning, that the Paymaster told him
he (the Paymaster) should pay us off this week
We have been disappointed so many times
about our pay, that we shant believe it u-
till we see the money, We had another box
come last night from Rockport, for Tom
Hull, of my mess, we had another big time
over it.  I have nothing more to write
to-day, that I think of now, and will
close by saying, God bless and preserve
you and our darlings from all ills, and
grant that we may soon be united, never
more to be parted, untill it shall please
Him to call us to His home--Yours in love
                                    Robert

Sgt. Robert P. Mansfield, Co. M., 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery

MSS 1242