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U.S.S. Dumbarton December 28th 1864

Dear Sister

I have written to you once or twice but having received no answer I came to the conclusion that you had not received mine. I intended to have wrote at the time I did to Sarah, but have been so busy that it was impossible. I send you a picture of your Sailor Brother hopeing it will please you, though they all say that it does not resemble me much. It is the best I could get here in Norfolk. And that is not saying much for the place. I dont think I have wrote to you since we got our Ship smashed up on the Blockade. But as you have seen Sarah and no doubt heard the particulars, it would be useless for me to repeat them now. We are still lying at Norfolk undergoing repairs. We expect to go in the Dry Dock this week and out of that about the last of the week, from thence we expect to return to the Fleet now operating against Wil- mington. If we get there in time we shall have some warm work. We have just received news of the capture of Savannah by "Sherman". I earnestly hope it is true and that he may be on hand to help us at Wilmington or Grant at Richmond. No doubt he will be somewhere's where the Rebels would not like him to be. As he is not the man to be contented with one Victory May God help him to strike another such blow at the Rebellion and then we can look for peace. A conquered peace, one that will last and not such a one as some pusilanimous cowards at the north wished to have, and which they themselves would repent of a year afterward. I will write no more politics I dont like the subject. But I will pray for peace. And may God speed the day when the Rebels will be compelled to lay down their arms and swear allegiance to the good old Union. I am one of the Boys that will try to make them if it takes ten years to do it. Sarah tells me you have one of your pictures for me. Will you send it when you write. Dont wait long for there is no telling when we shall leave here, but if you write immediately, I shall get it here. Give my love to Uncle William and Aunt Sarah and Uncle Silas if you see him.

I remain your loving Brother

Direct your letters to

AJ Weeks

Engineers Yeoman

U.S.S. Dumbarton

Gosport Navy Yard

Va