Partial transcription of the letter:
No 19
In Camp at Lamine Bridge,
Missouri, Tuesday Dec 29th, 1863.
My Dearest Wife,
I am on guard to day but will try and write you a few lines. [… page 2]
Four of our boys started home on furlough of 30 days. They only get half pay while they are gone and have to pay their own expenses so that it will be about the same as fifty or sixty Dollars out of their pockets. […] Oh how I wish I had the money to spare so that I could have come home and see you once more but I thought I could not afford it. And I don’t suppose you would have wanted me to come or that is you would not have thought it was best for me to come would you love. […]
There is lots of the cavalry boys here who are reenlisting [.] they like the service better than I do or they would not be slaves any longer than what they had already enlisted for. [… page 4]
Well I must get this ready to send to the office[,] So good bye for this time Dearest love, From your ever true and affectionate husband,
James N. Woodbury
See whole letter here: 1863-12-29_Woodbury_complete
Citation: December 29, 1863 Letter from James N. Woodbury to Amanda, letters to Amanda Woodbury, March 1863-May 1864. Diary and miscellaneous letters and papers, 1862-1908. Minnesota Historical Society. [P1091]
