1862-12-28 letter from James Thitchener to his aunt

              Due to the difficult nature of Thitchener's writing,
the edited transcription will follow the literal transcription.




Virginia december the 28 1862 
Dear Ants with plesure I take this
after noon of riting to you all it tis
a fine sunday after noon it is clear and
warmI hav just wake up and thought
of you all by reading the card that
you sent me in my box I am well
harty and lazy but i come very
close of not having the plesure 
to rite to you eny more but good
luck wood hav it i was spaird and
and i was thankfull to think i coud
liv a littel will longer it was
the wrost site i ever see or ever want
to see again I stoud and see the poor
soldiers cut down by hunderds
no dout unprepaird to leav this
this world it tis haird the life
we ought to to liv the life we
ought to hear the moste of the
soldiers is very ruf and haird 




Virginia, December the 28, 1862
Dear Aunts,
With pleasure I take this
afternoon of writing to you all. It is
a fine Sunday afternoon. It is clear and
warm. I have just woken up and thought
of of you all by reading the card that
you sent me in my box. I am well,
hearty and lazy, but I come very
close of not having the pleasure
to write to you anymore but good
luck would have it I was spared and
and I was thankful to think I could
live a little while longer. It was
the worst sight I ever see or ever want
to see again. I stood and see the poor
soldiers cut down by hundreds.
No doubt unprepared to leave this
this world. It is hard 
to live the life we 
out to. Here, the most of the
soldiers is veru rough and hard,