1861-12-05Fortress Monroe
Fortress Monroe Dec. 5th 1861

Dear Parents,

Again I take my pen to address you thinking that it would be a pleasure to you to hear from me at any time. It is truly a great pleasure to me to hear often from my friends and especially from home. I write this to let you know that yesterday we rec'd our pay. I tell you it made a great many glad faces. I rec'd pay up to the first of Nov. so that we are more than one month ahead now. We are to be paid off again the first of Jan. We shall get two months pay then, 26 dollars. I am pretty well broke out with measles but am having them light. Jehiel Wood and John Beach will both come down soon now. They will take them from me. They have both been exposed before and have not taken them yet. It begins to look as though we would leave here soon now but we can't tell how soon. We expect our stores tomorrow or perhaps today. The Col. has sent for them but I suppose we shall have to pay for them. It will not cost more than twenty five cents apiece. Father, I borrowed two dollars of James and I gave Hank Crofut an order on B. V. Ogden and told him to pay James two dollars and hand the dol to you. I want you to find out whether he paid it or not, if not I want you to pay it out of this. Have my clothes got home yet? I had a pr. of boots and a satchel. Henry wrote to James to pay the freight on the things that belonged on Elk Run and the folks would refund the money. I am going to send this money by Major Killbom and have it left at John H. Barnharts. I will send fifteen dollars in treasury notes. Write soon and let me know whether you receive the money or not. From your son.

J.D. Strait

Company I 45th Regt.
Col Welsh's PA V
Fortress Monroe, Va.