Helena Ark Dec 11th (1862) 
This, my birth day, finds me on picket The weather is warm and delightful Men are all comfortably situated in their winter quarters, and seem contented.
 Helena Ark. Dec 22nd It is currently reported that Burnside lost 40,000 men on the 13", 14" and 15th inst at Fredericksburg Va., and has fallen back with his few remaining, demoralized men on Washington. The rumor is generally credited The actual loss was about 20,000 men!
 Helena Ark. DEc. 25th Was on picket duty to day. Lincolns cabinet "busted", Seward, Chase, and Smith tender their resignations, many weak hearted think our Government is going to "burst" in a short time. Gold and silver 1.30, to 1.32 in the North. Many soldiers are deserting. The desertions are principally in the ranks of Eastern troops in the army of the Potomac. Desertions very rare among Western troops. This is considered the darkest hour of the war. The Eastern Generals are incompetant, and the privates have lost all confidence in their leaders, and that fine material has become a demoralized mass.
