Provisions

"...I want inside of it A good long string of Sausages..."

Philip was settling into winter camp at White Oak Church along with the rest of the Union army and he wrote to Roby on the 28th of January.  This was his last letter from that month.  He requested many provisions with which to winter with:

"Camp near White Oak Church

Jan 28th 1863

My Dear Wife

You no doubt will be surprised at getting another letter from me so quick but I am after that Box of Provisions in double quick time now ~ The thing has been arranged so that boxes will come right through safe ~ You can use your own judgement or Fathers in regard to the size of the box ~ if it is going to cost too much I would rather it should be a small one ~ but I will tell you what I want inside of it ~ A good long string of Sausages that will keep (that is 2 or 3 ft long) 2 or more well seasoned Mince Pies ~ a very few cookies ~ as many fried Cakes as you are a mind to ~ dont make them too short but make them so they will keep ~ a small chunk of Dried Beef if you have it ~ have Mrs Squire Hewes put in 3 or 4 lbs of Cheese if she will ---put in 1/2 lb Soda [,] some Black pepper some fine cut Tobbacco, Some of Mothers good Butter by all means. Some preserves of all kinds sealed up in small tin cans [.] Bill Crafts will fix them for you ~ Some good jellies packed so that they wont spill or get smashed up ~ A good variety of Dried fruit done up separate in Cloth Bags. 3 or 4 drawings of Green Tea. A very few dried Apples not but a few either --1 Small Towel - one of my old Neck Ties 1 Pocket Handkerchief (a Colored one) a good stiff heavy Table Spoon. 1 Table Fork 2 or 3 good clay pipes if you can pack them so they wont break.  That is all I can think of ~ now if there is any thing that a man needs here you probably will think of it..."

That is quite a list!  Come back tomorrow for the remainder of the letter and copies of the letter and the envelope...sent 3 cents postage due!

Hope to see you then!