Newbern [North Carolina]
November 16, 1864
Dear Sister Hellen—I am on the gain slowly for I cannot eat much. I have eaten more today than I have in four or five days. I think that I will get along now all right. We have got a new doctor and he is helping me. Reuben is quite sick. He is the most disagreeable boy you ever saw. The boys do all they can for him. He will sit and swear by the hour at the boys. Alonson, Irvin, and Hank tent with him. He wants to go to the hospital today. Irvin looks better than he ever did at home.
Perry and Ben were over to see me last Sunday afternoon. They were in good health and send their respects to all. I suppose Old Abe will be elected. If he is, look out for another draft and any man that don’t want to come down here will have to make himself scarce without fail. D. Candee’s sub died here in our camp. I suppose you heard all about it as all the boys wrote about it in the time of it.
How does Dick and Jule get along? Also yourself and Mary and Gerald, Elno and Nelly, and your mother? And how is my mother and Tom and Father and Ellen and Allen? I have not heard from John at all. Well, if he does not think it worthwhile to answer my letters, why let it go. When Ellen writes me a decent letter, I will answer it—not before. If her time is so much occupied that she cannot get time in two months to write more than the first page of a sheet of paper, she must have more to do than she used to. Tell Dick I think he might write to me once a week at least. I will and answer all the letters that I get. I have got three to answer now that I got while I was sick. I will not try to answer them quite yet.
Tell Mother I will be all right in a few days. My love to all and a kiss for Mary. I cannot think of anything more to write so goodbye.
— J. Fox
James Fox, Co. G, 3rd New York Light Artillery 