Camp 1st Mich Engrs & Mechanics
	Section 55 on the N.W. RR Tenn Feb 25th 64
Dear Father
	         With pleasure I seat myself to write
you a few lines on the first opportunity which has occured
since I received your letter I have been absent from
camp for three weeks with a portion of the company
distributing Ties on the Rail Road between here and
Nashville. we now have done and have returned
to our Battallion. and this afternoon we have
to rest and do up our [illegible] washing and all
other necessary Jobs, we have had very hard work
since we have been gone and we are glad enough
to get back to our company we have distributed
the Ties for about Fifteen miles, and some of them
we had to draw on the wagons from half to One and
Two miles besides getting out over 800 new Ties
for a plase where there was that number lacking.
Where we are now camped we are building a Trestle
over One Thousand feet long and from twenty to
Fifty feet in height: it is in a [large fill?] and over a small
stream. I suppose we will finish it in Eight or Ten
days and then I suppose we will go to Chattanooga
     You have probably heard that our Regiment has
been recruited up to Eighteen Hundred men, we 
are to have Twelve Companies of One Hundred and

Fifty men each. One Colonel one Lieutenant Colonel
Three Majors Three Quartermasters Sergeants
Three Commissary Sergeants One Sergeant Major
each Company to have one Captain Two first Lieuten
One Second Lieutenant Eight Sergeants Twelve
Corporals and Two musicians: The [Regiments you?]
will [illegible] will be very large and likewise very costly
it will take more money to pay us than it will
the most of Infantry Brigades. but I suppose that
Uncle Sam is able to do it. a good many of the old
men will be promoted as soon as we are fully
reorganized: There is considerable dissatisfaction
[illegible] among the old men on account of having
new Officers placed over them who have never seen any
service, and who have the places which some of the
old men who have served well and faithfully nearly
Three years should occupy. I do not think it is hardly
right myself but I guess I [two words illegible] till my time
is out.. if it was not for that I do not know but
that I would reinlist. I may do so as it is but at
present I cant see it:" We have a good captain and
One of our Lieutenants is as good a man as I
could wish for but there are others who I do not much
fancy, and who I do not wish to serve under: I have
got along very well with our Officers this fall. while
many have had a great deal of trouble on account of
their stubbornness and disposition to complain and find 

fault with every thing. I have always found
		 	do
it to be the best way to ^ whatever I am required to
do cheerfully and without grumbling. and never to 
say anything against the proceedings no matter what
I thought about it..
     I suppose you have received Allens letter before
this and I hope in your answer you will send the
information required, as to how you are getting along
with your payments.
     I am very sorry that John has left you. I was
in hopes that he would stay with you and that you
would Save a good and happy home
     The Boys I supose do not have much chance
to go to School this winter; I am sorry for it as they
both need it very much. and there is no telling when
they may have the same chance again:
   We will probably go the front in the course of a
couple of weeks at the outside and have another chance
to see some big fighting and possibly an hand in 
we will write as often as we can and you and the
boys must do the same
     enclosed you will find a Ten Dollar Green Back
and a Rebel letter which I picked up on a Scout
     I write this in haste as I have yet much
to do this P.M. so you must excuse bad writing
     Give my respects to all
write soon)          Ever Yours   Alex