I did not get any letter from home by the last mail but trust I shall get one or more tonight. I got a letter from Uncle Alfred & one from Aunt McKenney by the last mail. The last letter I rec'd from Delinda [i.e., Delinda Jackson] was dated from Jan. 26th to 30. but I trust there is one on the way from her before this. I rec'd one from Delora [i.e., Delora Jackson] dated Feb. 10th, as late as any thing I have heard. There is nothing going on here except the boys are detailing rails. All the rest from our tent have just come in with a load but having some cold I did not really dare to go in the rain so far. It has stormed for three or four days now. Day before yesterday we had a fine old snow storm as I believe I wrote you & at time for dress parade our regiment was divided & a portion marched round in front of the others & then Leut. Col. Luce [i.e., Lieutenant Colonel Enos T. Luce, 23rd Maine Infantry] stationed the colors on a line between & gave us instructions not to hit the color bearers or pass the line of the colors & then told us to "go in" & if we stopped for a second word of encouragement I was not aware of it. we did "go in" & of all the sport I ever saw in the line of snow balling that decidedly took the lead. black eyes were plenty & swelled noses were among the most common things to be met with. lips look as if they had caught their size from having been in connection with some of these dark eyed damsels. I was in the front rank & we rushed right up to the line & almost the first "fire" I got hit square in the mouth but we had not got excited so it did not come hard. I did not get hit again but I saw the one that hit me & directed my "efforts" in that direction & hit him twice full in

the face & twice in the side of his head so I thought my cause righted. I wouldn't care if I got wounded by the rebs if I could pay them back so fully. I saw a black snake the other day. dead however. he measured four ft. & nine ins. his back was a very dark brown & his belly of a dull bluish color his under jaws was yellow & such eyes. he handled himself nimbly when they were killing him. his strength was great. I am always fearful about sending this revolver home for I think likely you will handle it carelessly & if it should go off it might do serious business. You little think how much work it was to make it. the cross I had a pin on the back side of but was careless just as I was finishing it & broke it. I will send this for a key cross & make another pin when I have time & can get a bone. bone is almost as precious with us as gold dust. A large number of the boys got "drowned out" last night. in some tents the water stood four or five inches this morn. our tent is as "dry as a pepper box." I hardly think there is another tent along the line where the boys agree as well as our tent's crew do. I want to send home some of the names by which different boys of our Co. are known for future reference. they are these: "Burnside," "Gen Hooker" or "Fighting Joe," "Gen. Jackson" or "Stonewall," "Lofty," "Johnny Bull," "Adjt.," "Capt.," "Sunflower," or "Educated Fool," "English Robin," "Foul Mouth," "Useless," "Slow & Easy" "Lengthy," "Idiot." I cannot stop to think of more now, I want to have you tell me all about how things are getting along at home & all the news in that vicinity, remember I feel particular interest in the work & stock for things beside the family. I want letters just as often as you can get time to write I expect you are driven for time but I do not think that it often requres more of an effort for you to write me than it does usually for me to write, Affectionately yours.

In great haste,
John.

To the members of the Jackson family at home.

Just take a tooth brush an old one & clean this revolver as you would cameo pins & it will improve it much