the white meat an half a mince pie. It certainly tastes good in the
field. Of course we aint in nobodies field. Thats a military expreshun.
I cant explain it.

I got to quit now an post a guard. At the same time Ill post this letter
to you. Thats a joke Mable. Im sorry this letter cant be longer but as a
man rises in the army he gets less an less time to hisself. Olive oil.

Yours faithlessly,
_Bill_.



_Mon Cherry Mable:_

Thats the way the French begin there love letters. Its perfectly proper.
I would have rote you sooner but me an my fountin pens been froze for a
week. Washington will never know how lucky he was that he got assigned
to valley Forge instead of here. It got us out of drill for a couple of
days. Thats somethin. I guess Id rather freeze than drill. Its awful
when they make you do both though.

Two of my men has gone home on furlos. Me bein corperal I took all there
blankets. The men didnt like it but I got a squad of men to look out for
an my first duty is to keep fit. Duty first. Thats me all over. I got so
many blankets now that I got to put a book mark in the place I get in at
night or Id never find it again.

We spent most of our time tryin to find somethin to burn up in the Sibly
stoves. A sibly stove, Mable, is a piece of stove pipe built like the