Columbus Ind
		  	     Jan 11th /63
Dear Cousin
	          Your very kind letter
was received some days ago and
I fear that I am not setting
a very good example for promptness
though I trust that our correspondence
will be as lengthy one and I think
that some little delay makes letters 
more interesting.
I was gratified on receiveing your
letter but very sorry to know that
you was unwell: I trust that you
are quite well again and injoying
all the pleasures of life.
But I fear that you are not doing
this as your letter indicates that there
is a shadow of gloom on your
countenance: Let us try and keep in
in good cheer and all will be well
with us yet I trust

I fear that I have selected a bad
time to address you: As I am on the
meloncoly list this evening.
I have been caused much uneasiness
since the late battle of Murfreesboro
fearing that John is one a mong
the fallen as his division was in
the hottest of the contest; I trust
that I will hear from him soon
And I must be prepared to hear
any information that may come let
it be good or bad   If he is severely
wounded I will go to him.
                                 to
Cousin I know how ___ sympathize with
you oer the loss of an absent
brother.  My mind wanders back
to the days of my childhood when
my brother and I and all my little
associates used to while away so
many happy hours around the old
white mansion that is now lonely
and desolate:
Alas what a change; the great monster

of time has been at work
     But few of my old associates
ever meet my gaze. Some of them
have emigrated to distant countries
some are lying in the silent
tomb and some are now making
a death struggle to restore there once
peaceful country.
Will you pleas tell my cousins across
the way that it would give me
much pleasure to receive letters
from them, That I will take
great delight in answering them
and that I dont think they aught
to wait for me to write the first
letter.  I am almost ashamed to
say any thing about those
photographs I have made one
attempt to get them and the chemicals
did not work right and I shall
have to try it again I think that
I will try again to morrow and
trust that I will have better success
than before

[crossed out] [Aunt Jane Tingle]
Aunt Jane Tingle and family
are going to move to Washington
in the Spring and I will feel quite
alone without them for there is no
place so much like home as here
James sends his love to you all
and says that he is coming to see
you some time he don't know when;
I wrote to John and told him
all a bout our kind relatives out there
I have received but one letter
from him since I wrote to you
he was well then
Give my love to the family
	     Write soon and oblige
		     Your Cousin
			B. I McConnell

Miss Jennie Cathcart
		Westville
		      Indiana