Pioneer: Corps: 3rd: Div; 15th.A.C. 
Larkinsville: Ala: Dec; 29th 1863 
Dear Wife 
It is with mutch pleasure that I again sit down to 
write you in answer to yours of [crossed out word] the 13. &. 15th Inst 
I was verry glad to hear that your health was better than  
when you wrote before: it came through quicker than any 
letter I have recd from you for a long time 
Day before yesterday I was helping to fix the road through 
a bad swamp and it rained all day or nearly so; and 
I took cold and was quite unwell yesterday and last night 
but I feel considerable better to day I still have a hard 
cough; but I think I will be all right again in a 
day or two: Well Christmas is over; and do you want to 
Know how we spent Christmas? I immagin I hear you 
Say yes? well I will tell you; we left Stevenson on Christ 
mas morning and by some mistake our Brigade. Q.M. 
neglected to draw the propper rations for the first two days 
march: consequentally most of the boys were out of rations 
for dinner; and towards night the Boys made many Joking 
remarks about our Christmas festaval: one would yell out 
Christmas gift; and another one: Hard Tack? and another 
Sow Belly; and Some of the Boys would Scatter out on the 
road sides and shoot any hogs or cattle they could find 
runing loose: but the Supply was inadequate to the demand; 
Some of the boys would Jokingly suggest that they Boil 
their dirty greasy Haversacks and make a Kettle of Soup 

 
 
as for myself I happened to have a few crackers 
and some ground coffee left in my haversack 
and I gave a citizen 25 cts for enough side pork for 
my Supper; and that is the way we passed our christmas 
we seem to have rather hard luck on Christmas in Dixie 
for on Christmas a year ago we were on short rations 
at Holley Springs having had our Supplies cut off 
We however have plenty of rations now and will probably 
fare more [illegible] on New Years; It seems a little 
hard for Soldiers to march a day or two on little or no rations 
but it is really a benefit to many of them: for the most 
part of Soldiers food is Strong and hard to digest; and to 
fast a day occasionally: [crossed out word] relieves the [illegible] for a 
while and gives the Digestive organs a chance to gather 
Strength; under my own observation I have seen that 
too mutch eating & too little Exercise have Killed many 
Soldiers or at least was the causes of Diseases that did  
Kill them; Twenty Soldiers have died from eating too 
mutch of impropper food: where one has starved to death; 
with those in Southern prisons included. 
The old Soldiers are begining to Enlist in the [illegible] quite 
rapidly but I have not Enlisted yet and I dont think 
I Shall for Several days: I Enlisted on my own 
responsibility the first time; So I will not Enlist again 
unless you are willing; If Robert said all the 18th would 
re'enlist if necessary I supose he was trying to Enstill into 
some of them home patriots a Disposition to come down here 
and help some of their old neighbors do a little fighting 
     I must stop and help build a chimney 
Dec 31st 1863 
Well Lucinda I commenced writing this letter day before yesterday 
but we have been so busy fixing up camp and one thing and another 
that I have not had time to finish it until now; I have not got 
over my cold yet but I feel better than I did two days ago. I still 
have considerable cough yet but I think it will wear of again 
in a few days; well we have got another little shanty built with 
[crossed out word] a nice little fire place in it and all muded up tight and our 
Tent Stretched over the top of it; it looks some like the Shanty 
you spoke of; only it is not quite so large; as ours is only about 
[crossed out word] 7 by 9. feet; when I get home I think I will Build one a 
little larger for us to live in; Today is the last day of the year 
the next letter I write you will be dated in 1864 
One of the boys of my Tent Just come in with a 
couple of Geese that he bought of a citizen out in the  
country So you see we will have a Stew fry for New Years. 
Two years ago to night we was together at a watch meeting 
at Springville and I would be glad if the war was over 
and we was there to night; but I dont think the war 
will last more than another year longer I would be glad 
if the war would End before my time is out; for I dont 
want to hear of war after I go home for I want to enjoy 
peace for a while; today is Muster day and a verry wet one 
at that for it has been raining nearly all day that is up to 
this hour 2 oclock; I have not seen any of the boys in the 
Regt Since they left Bridgeport they went on ahead of us 
to Huntsville which is 36 miles west of here; the Div 
may not get all together again for sometime as the Brigades 
are scattered along the R.R. at Different places 
You wanted me to write what my Mothers name is if you 
write to her Direct: Mrs Nancy [illegible]; Keithsburg 
Mercer: Co: Ills: I have not had any letters of 
consequence for Several weeks but I think the mail  
will begin to go more Regular So that we will get our 
mail more promptly: well I will have to Stop to go out 
to muster; Well we Just Mustered for two Months 
more pay but I dont know when we will be paid 
it may be sometime I am in no hurry however for 
I have all the Spending money I will need. I 
Supose untill we are paid; 
   Well I believe I have nothing more of importance 
   to communicate this time So I will close 
   for the present: Write Soon. 

I Remain as ever Your Obedient Servent 
Thos.J.Davis 
To. Lucinda.M.Davis 
P.S 
Direct your letters as I last wrote