_Berryville, Clark County, Va.,
November 13, 1862._
Our brigade is now camped in the suburbs of Berryville and is doing
picket duty; however, in three days more another brigade will relieve
us. The rest of the division is within five miles of Winchester. There
seems to be no prospect of a fight at this time, although our men
continue to take prisoners occasionally. The largest number brought in
at one time was 104.
The weather is still quite cold, but the health of the brigade remains
good. But few men reported sick this morning. We still hear of a case
of smallpox occasionally, but the army is well vaccinated and I am
satisfied that we are all immune. We have plenty to eat. For breakfast
this morning we had biscuit (and they were shortened too), fried
bacon and fried cabbage. For dinner we had boiled beef and dumplings,
with biscuit and boiled eggs. Dr. Kilgore and I dined in Berryville
yesterday with a Dr. Counsellor. The dinner was fine and the table was
graced by his charming wife.
I still have about thirty dollars, but our quartermaster has gone to
Richmond to get several months’ pay for us. Please send my suit to me,
for I wish to give the one I am now wearing to my servant, Wilson. He
also needs a pair of shoes. In your last letter you ask if I have the
night-cap which your aunt made for me. I lost it one morning before
day, when preparing for battle. Take good care of George.