Ferdinand Florida

Jan 5th, 1863

Dear Father,

I sent myself down this Eve by candle light to answer your very kind letter that I received this afternoon dated Dec. 21st.  I was very glad to hear from you and to hear that you was well and prospering although a little down hearted at this time as regards __ matters and to tell the truth I do not know as I can blame you for it looks very dark now.  It was hard news for ours to hear that Gen. Burnside had got licked and pretty badly to, for we all thought that he would some great things but also he got defeated with a great loss of men.  But he was mighty lucky getting back on the other side of the river without the rebels knowing about it.  

You wrote to me that you had not heard anything about Office seeking in our Regt. Lately.  Will I guess you have not for they have been quite civil lately and I hope they will continue to do so for they have made ____ enough I should think.  Sgt. Bonney need not fish for a commission any more in our Com.  for as I have wrote you before we have got a new recruit for a Liut so there is no chance for him unless he gets commission in another Com.  It may be he will for there is a number of vacancies in the Regt but probably if they weren’t any more new officers in the Regt they will send to Maine and get a recruit that never see a sword or gun.  But I will tell what a present our new Liut got soon after he came into the Com (the next morning after he came here he was presented with a wooden sword and a pair of wooden shoulder straps).  Don’t you think he had quite a present.  When I opened my letter today that came from you I was surprised when I found $2.00 & 20 CT’s in it for I did not expect it.  I wrote that if it was not such hard times I would send and get some money, but I am very thankful for it and thank you a thousand times for sending it to me and may God bless you and my dear Mother for being so kind to me.  We have not been paid of for six months and are not likely to be for some time yet.  I received four postage stamps in my letter.  I also received the New York Tribune with my letter.  I received my box a few days ago as I have before so I will not write the particulars about it as I have before.  But I will close now for it is getting late.  Continue to write often and I will do the same.

Goodbye,

I.W. Bisbee