Camp of the 140th Regt. N. Y. Vols.
Near Petersburg, Va.
January 9th 1865
Sister Alice,
Yours of no date arrived safe last eve. Glad to learn by perusal you were well & in fine spirits hoping this may find you enjoying your usual gaiety. This leaves me in my usual health & spirits & which I am I hopes of enjoying for a long time. I find by rehearsal of yours that Frederick Schlan has been exchanged and is at Annapolis very ill of which I am very sorry to learn but hope he may soon recover to enjoy his usual health.
I was extremist glad to learn you had a good time during the holidays & hope I may be with you next Christmas. I have been on picket during the past three days. The time passed off quite pleasant though not as pleasant as I had an idea it would for it rained nearly all the time the first day & the following two were very cold—frost every morning for the past two. The weather has been some warmer today & tonight it has the appearance of rain. Last night the [F__] made a terrible racket along the picket line. I rather think they were playing log or hide & seek.
Yesterday the 2nd Corps advanced their picket line on the left flank, driving in the Johnnies & capturing quite a large number. About daylight this morning the enemy made another dash on the Ninth Corps pickets in front of the Cockade Artillery but what the result was, I did not learn. I have not much news to relate this time so will close for the present by asking a request of Father—viz: Please tell him to send me a pocket knife, some good pens (Gillots) & a good Dira if he has not sent me and by complying with the request he will great oblige his faithful & obedient son, — C. C. Miller
Oh yes, have him send some nutmeg & this stuff put into pancakes to make them tight. Mr. Booth will bring them with him when he returns for the field. — Chas.
Spared & Shared 21 