GDG- Christmas, 1863

[128thpa at comcast.net]

Happy Holidays from Paula

>From Kevin Rawling's book(with his permission), We Were Marching On Christmas Day:

Here is a  letter from Fred Pettit of the 100th Pa., December, 1863
 
“Perhaps you would like to know how we are spending our Christmas in the army. Last night I was on picket and caught a bad cold and as you may suppose do not fell very funny.  Last year I think I told you I had a mess of beans and pork for a Christmas dinner.  This year I am not so fortunate.   We have been furnished nothing but a small piece of boiled beef.  But our Sutler came up last night and we obtained a few cracker, a little cheese, and butter.  But what do you think the price is?  Cracker 50 cts. per lb., cheese 50 cts per lb.,  and butter 80 cts.  At these rates you can easily see what a dinner cost
us.
 
Perhaps you say we need not buy them.  Well, standing picket all night and making your breakfast and dinner on a small piece of boiled beef without any bread does not go well why you have money in your pocket.  For the last month we have had but one fourth to one half rations of bread stuff . . . .  
 
My clothing is the worst I ever had at this time of the year.  My toes stick thorough both of my shoes and everything else ins about in the same condition.
 
Perhaps you think we are discouraged and complaining.  Not at all.   Far from it.  This army is now in far better sprits than the Army of the Potomac was at this time last year . . . .  We have beaten the enemy and feel confident of being able to do so still. “
 
Pettit died in a hospital from a wound received at Cold Harbor the following year.