Winter Quarters

[1stSgt.Bleacher]

February 8th, 1864,
Dear Mother,
I thought I would take a few free minutes to tell you how things are presently in camp. As you know we entered winter quarters back in early December, we are surrounding the village of Bedford and it has snowed here. I do not know how things are in York but I hope that they aren't nearly as cold, damp and miserable as they are presently. Your recent packages of jellies, shortbread and ham was much appreciated by all in the cabin and those elsewhere through out the camp. There was a bit of spoilage on the one side of the ham, but that did not deter us, we just cut off the bad side, and fried it up extra hard. We awoke Saturday morning to the snow falling around us, the poor pickets and those on guard duty were nearly frozen to death. Luckily many had great coats or had them lent to them from the others who weren't out in the weather. We had at least 2feet of snow, the majority of our day and weekend was spent clearing away white nusence from our roofs, walkways, latrine and various other necessary places to go. I am not looking forward to the melt and the mud this will bring upon us. A plank walkway is already being constructed from headquarters to the quatermasters office and then to the hospital ward. Many are in with frostbite and terrible coughs, many are cooped up in their little cabins or makeshift structures. We had to clear a 7 foot high snow drift from the covered bridge entrances, and the roof. The small river to stream that flows underneath it has been frozen over for quite some weeks now, and obtaining water is difficult. The other week someone fell in and completely dreched in fridged water, we had to warm him quickly so as not to die from exposure, sadly he is now in the hospital ward with pnemonia we are hoping he recovers. I was able to receive a new rubberized ground cloth and poncho, that will help with the weather, I am wearing it over my great coat, it helps keep the cold and dampness out. Elizabeth has kniffed me a nice heavy scarf, and it is used hard and daily as I make my rounds outside throughout the day. The sun is shining and there is blue sky, now if there would be less wind and be about 30 degrees warmer, we would be a bunch of happy campers.

Well I best get going! Have lots to do!
With love,
Zak