Portmouth Grove hospittle
Ward 21 December the 19 1863
Dear Brother I now take my pen
in hand to in form you that I
am A little better than I was but
I tremble pretty bad now and
my back plages me yet I dont
take no medess on now all I hav
to do so far is to make my one
bed and eat and that hant
but A damed little work for
we don't hav much to eat we dont
fair half so swell as we did
with the Regt when we was
in camp I think R.I. keeps
fine hospittle we hav a little
soup for dinner 2 or 3 potatoes for
supper and a little salt and A
small peas of white bread with it
A little Rice or mush and molasses
for brakefast that cold and not half enuf