Camp McCook Cumberland Maryland, December the 4th A D 1862

Camp McCook Cumberland Maryland, December the 4th A D 1862

Mrs. Rachel Dunbar beloved Aunt.It is with the greatest pleasure that I sieze the present opportunity of informing you how I am prospering I am well at this time and I sincerely hope that these few lines may find you and your family enjoying the same great blessing we are still here at Cumberland and I expect we will winter here but I wish we would go further south where it is warmer But although we are situated among the mountains and are as far north as it is in ohio we havehad no cold weather worth mentioning we have had only two snows yet and they dident last any length of time Our tents turn rain first rate and they have kept us very comforable this far we have also plenty of good warm clothing and we have good substantial food to eat. we have had no marching to do on foot yet so you see dear aunt we have had pretty easy times for soldiers we have prayer meeting every night in the church tents our chaplain allways has prayer when we are all out on dress parade the whole regiment is formed into a hollow square the chaplain stands in the middle so you see the whole Regiment can hear all he says I recieved your letter yesterday morning and oh dear aunt you have no idea how glad I was to hear from you and to recieve your good and kind councils I want you to write me a great manny such letters the will allways do me good and they cause my mind to wander back to the happy days of my early childhood and they make me think of you and Aunt mary those were happy days when I and my dear brother Jasper was all sundered far by distance and Providence only knows whether we shall ever meet again but we must not be despondent for I have a very good chance of returning if I keep my health I dread sickness worse than I do the Secesh bullets. but I will try and take good care of myself and I want you to pray for me for the prayers of the righteous availeth much I was glad to hear that you got my picture. I received a letter from you beside this last one It was an execellent letter I also wrote you another letter before the one that I went my picture in. Tell William and Wesley 1 to write to me I expect thay will say that i must write first but tell them I have so manny letters to write that i cant possibly write to all my friends but if they write to me i will answer them without delay i hope that Joseph is getting well of the Diptheria i dread to hear of that disease but i must close for i have no time to write at present But remain your affectionate nephew David Close to his dear aunt Rachel Dunbar. I send my best Respects to Uncle George and the Children

Good By Aunt David Close