[Written upside down on top of Scan 1]

in any of the letters
rec,d remember me to all
that care to enquire. & as
your friend & coz  Alvah

[End]

	Dec..20th	
		Well Joseph you
will most likely notice that I have
made. quite a period. since comm-
encing. the letter [illegible] you. [crossed out] [Well]
       not
I did ^ complete. when commen
ced: as I heard that commu-
nications were stopped from
this to you. & Since I have got
up around I have been occupied
with one thing & and another. writin
ng. to those from I have rec,d
letters. & until the present
we have have as you most likely 
	       e
are. aware b^en doing a fine
thing with old Hood. I do not
know whether we shall make
a finish of Him this time or
not – but think: he is pretty
well. run through. I expect
the brave boys have endured
much, during the past two

or three weeks. it has been bad
weather most all of the time
when they were fighting & mud
& rain. are beyond degree
some of the time since Hood
came. here. it has been very
cold for this country. & a heavy
rain freezing as it fell
made it almost impossible
for Cavalry & artillery to
accomplishing anything 
A team of six mules could
draw an empty waggon
& not much more: I hear that
You. are having cold weather
& good sleighing – wish I were
with you from this until the
Holidays .. are over: Guess I
would put in the time to good 
purpose: but I think my 
Christmas & Newyears will
pass here. waiting upon the

sick boys: that are from camp
& field. & who are suffereing [crossed out] [from]
from exposure & fatigue
.I wish you were a few days to go
around town or witness the am-
ount of business carried on 
by. Uncle Sam & there is not
much besides that done here
The Army quartered in & about
the place for a few weeks. are
enough to fill one. place.
The Rail Roads machine shops
g waggon shops. bakeries, Hospitals
power works. Exchange. Barracks
Army warehouses Army waggon
yards. & "Uncle Sam": if a bus-
ness characters. & keeps quite
a [crossed out] [number] number of irons
in the fire: & we have to pay for
the coal Iron & [illegible] work
I rec.d a letter from Charlotte
Shes [charming?] & learn that the
taxes on my place are $30.00 or
something over

     Our wife writes that you
are having fine. sleighing now
& I expect you are making good
use of it – I would like quite
well to enjoy a good ride before
it leaves. but guess the sleighing
on my plate is for this time
has played out as the boys
express themselves
     Charlotte writes that she
has heard reported that [illegible]
Franklin & Henry Andrus
are Sick & we are to be 
forwarded to Hospital in
Detroit Henry is well &
as fat as a Porker & Hub is
in in Hospital in Jeffers-
onville, Ind. I find the sheet nearly
full & guess will not fill another this time
Should like to hear from you at
any time. I think I do not get all the
Letters sent me as Charlotte speaks
of writing about things which I have