Pioneer Corps 3rd Div. 15th A.C. 
     Huntsville: Ala Feb 12th 1864 
Dear Lucinda 
   I take my pen this morning to write 
you a few lines in answer to your 
letter dated Jan 27th I was verry 
glad to hear that you was well and that 
the wether was not so cold As it had 
been the first of the month  
My health is getting quite good 
again; in fact it is better than it 
has been for over a year and I begin 
to feel quite Saucy again; Robt Mc,s 
Recruits arrived here three or four 
days ago I was at the Regt and 
Seen them all: I Rec'd the letter you 
Sent me by George Rogers but I had 
Rec'd two letters by mail that you had 
written Since that one you sent by 
George: the boys were all well when 
I was at the Reg,t yesterday but the 
Recruits was grumbling they thought 
that there was something wrong 
about the mail as they did not get 
letters as soon as they Expected; but 
they will learn a lesson of patience 
if they remain in the army any 
length of time they all seem to be verry 
well Satisfied; I rec,d a letter from 
Sarah McLain the other day she wrote 
that her family,s health was mutch better 
than it had been; She puts on considerable 
agony; about Susan Wilsons accomplished 
girls Especially Clara; I will send 
you the letter so you can read it 
I also Rec,d a letter from David 
Ingersoll Dated Feb 1st he Said that 
the folks were all well and that 
Little Charlie had Rec,d your likeness 
that you sent him: David said that 
his broken arm was quite lame so 
that it was Dificult for him to write 
(he had his arm broken when a boy) 
the wether here is quite pleasent: though 
the nights and mornings are cold Enough 
to make fire desireable; our pioneer 
Corps came back to Huntsville 
yesterday; Well Lucinda I have 
Something to tell you that I am 
ashamed to write; but as it is said  
an open confession is good for the soul 
I Supose I may as well make the 
confession: I have Enlisted in the  
Veteran Service: with what I have 
written to you to the contrary not with 
standing, I hope you will forgive 
me for it as well as for breaking my 
promise that I make you that I 
would not; Now I do not wish you  
to think because I Enlisted that I 
lack any Devotion towards you: I 
Reconsidered the prospects of military 
affairs together with my own private 
affairs and I come firmly to the conclu 
sion that it was the best thing I  
could do for you and myself too 
As under my old Enlistment I 
could be held till the 20th of Next Jan'y
and I firmly belive by that time 
the war will be over and probably  
before; and if [crossed out word] the war holds out 
longer than that I am quite certain 
that I can get Discharged if I 
choose (though they say nothing about that to  
anyone). If the Regt goes home this 
Spring on furlough I will probably 
go with them: I wish you to get  
ready (so if I should come) to make a 
      with me 
visit ^ down into Illinois; and if 
you like the country and people and 
you are willing perhaps I will leave 
you in Ills as mail would be more 
convenient there: and if not you can  
go on a visit to Michigan if you choose 
Our Col. gave me the promse that I  
Should Remain in the pioneer Corps 
as long as it remained organised 
and Gen. Smith and Gen Logan 
Said the organisation of the pioneer 
Corps would be Kept up; and I would 
mutch rather stay here than in the Reg,t 
L M Davis   	T.J.Davis