Nashville Tenn Nov 9th /63
	Dear Brother
		           I received your
kind and welcome letter last night
and hasten to reply; I was very happy 
to hear from you and to know that
you were having good times I am glad
to hear that Father is better: and very
sorry that Delia is so ill: I hope she will
soon recover, and may God keep you
all in health and peace: we have Just
arrived here from Elk River: we will stop
here a day or Two and then go out on
the North Western Rail Road. toward
the Tennessee River. we will probably be
there the most of the winter: I hope
we will stay on the route the rest of
our time of service. but I consider it
rather doubtful as we move about more
than any other Regiment in the field
we generally move as often as we get
out of a job and it has to be a

large one to keep us a great while
there is Five Companies here and
the other Seven are toward or at Chatanooga
you will see by this that we have twelve
Companies in our Regiment: Two have been
raised [during?] the past year. we are [getting?]
once in a while recruits for the old
Companies: the Regiment now probably 
numbers Nine Hundred effective men
and is now in excellent condition
both as to health and spirits drill
and discipline: this is the best branch
of the service for a man to serve in
we do not often have any Picket to do
we have transportation for every thing
that we wish to carry we do not have
to carry our knapsacks. have the best
Rations and clothes: and get the
best pay of any Regiment in the Service
Second class Private $13 pr month first 
class private $17.. Corporal $20. Sargeant $34
lieutenant $95.. Captain $125; we do enough
of work to keep us in good health and

the most of our men are [fat?]
     and rugged: in your letter
     I found a very beautiful Ring. I 
thank you very much for it and
will keep it as a memento of my
Brothers affection: and some of 
these days will send you something in
return: Allen and myself are both
well and stand a Soldiers life first
rate. I hear rumors that James is
going to enlist. in the Eighth Inf. I
hope he will not be so foolish I would
advise him not to enlist in any Regt
but if he is determined on it let him
Come in this. as it is far preferable
to any Infantry Regiment: If there is
any chance to get a Furlough this
winter I will try and get one and
come and see you all: now do not
forget to write as often as you can It
is getting late and now hurrah for the
[Theatre?]; give my respects to all Ever Yours
				Alex