December 18th 1864
Camp South of Petersburg VA

Dear Lorette
I received yours of one 11th night before last. Am very sorry to hear that you are in trouble there were people in the South that were ugly enough to set fore to buildings, but I did not think that had pluck enough to do it. You know there is hardly a person in the world that has no enemies, but I never thought your father had any so -----. I As it appears he has I assume you Dear L. I sympathize (sic) with you in your troubles, but at the same time, am thankful it is no worse. They might have set your house on fire, and some of you been burned up which would have been a much greater calamity. You will see by this that we have made another move we left Camp --- Friday the 9th, marched to Stevenson's Station where we took the cars for Washington, it was cold and snowed nearly all night. We arrived there about 2 ½ PM Saturday and took transports for City Points where we arrived Monday AM. Stayed there until about 2 PM where we again took the cars and came to Parks Station, near Gen---- where we camped for the night. The next day we came to our present camp which six or seven miles south of Petersburg. IN coming here we marched over the ground where so many of the first Vermont --- were taken prisoner, last June, the main liens here are but a little of any over a mile apart. Can see the Johnnies except where they are in the woods, by going a quarter of a mile to the left, can see the Rebel Camp. Once in a while we hear the whistle of their engines and last night could hear their band play. Since we have been here have seen Henry Clayton and Willie Rich. Henry and Clayton have a --- tent at the camp of the 2nd Vermont artillery in the one 1st division of the 2nd corps . Casper Sloan is clerk for there. I have been over there once since we have been. Casper says that ---- has reenlisted and is a new 2nd Liet. In a regiment of "Colored Troops" (the English of it is Niggers) Casper is looking well, says he is going to Baltimore in about a week to see his wife. Don't we get splendid news just now General Thomas has whipped Hood, taken forty pieces of artillery and between five and six thousand prisoners that is a dispatch from General Thomas that came to General Meade last night and this morning there was salute of one hundred guns fired in honor of the victory. I suppose there is a great deal of talk up there about the release of these raiders from Canada. Wish I could catch them they would stand a very good chance to be released from "this world". Day before yesterday (Friday) there were three deserters hung, they were (as it appears) not only deserters but went into the rebel army and were taken prisoners. The gallows are only about one third of a mile from our camp. There have been a number executions that I might have seen, but I could never muster up courage to go until this one. I don't care about seeing such things very often. Still, I believe they deserved to by hung if anybody did (yes, I think I ought to go home this winter, and will it is a possible thing to do. If I do, you had better believed I shall be in --- to see about that before and cheer you if you should be downhearted which I hope you will not, you must keep up good spirits. Snap your fingers at trouble and all your enemies. You will come out all right, see if you don't. Now is it about that photograph you were to send me and when you got back from the west. I have not seen it yet, be a good little girl now and send me one night off, will you? DO you hear from Hall's folks nowadays? You must write to me very soon, fill me all the news and don't forget the picture. Remember me to be the good people of S---,especially your father.
As ever.
Your George