Huntsville Ala March 5th 1864 
      Dear Lucinda 
I Sit down this afternoon to write you a few lines to 
let you know that I am in moderate health hoping this 
may find you well: I am now at the Reg,t in Huntsville 
I came here on the 2nd inst for the purpose of being 
Mustered into the veteran Service; but the Regt has 
not yet got their necessary papers ready; and it 
will probably be two or three days yet before the Reg,t 
will be Mustered; They will be paid shortly after 
muster; I will go back to the Pioneer Corps which 
is 16 miles west on the R.R. as soon as mustered 
I have not mutch Idea when the Reg,t will get their 
furlough: but  the Officers Say they think we will start 
home the last of the month; but I would not be 
Surprised we would stay until after the Spring 
Campaign. The 4th Minn; Reg,t. Started for home 
to day So I have not Rec'd a letter from you since I 
last wrote: but I Expect there is a letter for me 
from you at the Corps and will probably be two by 
the time I get back there; The boys in the Company 
are all well Except Jim Kingston and he is now 
over the worst of the Measels and is able to be out of his 
bed part of the time; Alvin Caulkins Rec,d a letter 
from his mother yesterday; She said if Alvin got 
furlough She wanted him to come home.
and not to go to wis, to see the girls for there was 
plenty of as good girls in Iowa I [crossed out word] those 
and Wis: and not many of them had beaus;  
The wether is quite pleasent now though we had two or three 
days Rain the first of this month; Indications now show 
that Spring is really here: and the Military Spring 
Campaign is maneuvering and in motion; there was  
considerable fighting near Dalten; Georgia; last week 
and the Reg,t that Brother william is in the 75 Ill; was 
Engaged and lost 70 men but I dont know whether 
William was hurt or not I will feel anxious until I 
hear from him; I am not so crazy about a furlough as 
Some of the men not even so mutch as some of the boys that 
have no wives from the fact that I do not allow myself 
to fret about it; Though there is none of them that I think 
would Enjoy themselves any better than I would with you 
Two of the reg,ts of our Div that went to Chattanooga has 
returned; Ed Crandall Rec'd a letter from Cal Hagerman the 
other day; he said the boys were all well in the battery he also 
Said that none of the Badax boys had Enlisted in the 
Veterans; I have written twice to Jabe but have not Recd 
a letter from him since he left vicksburg; I Expect you will 
give me fits when you hear that I have ReEnlisted but 
I will bear it all in good humor; and try and make it all 
right when I get home; I have pretty good hopes that 
another year will wind up the war then we can settle 
down in a peaceful home of our own with nobody to molest 
us or make us afraid when Swords Shall be Exchanged
     for pruning hooks and plow Shears and our 
     avocation will be to build up a country Instead of 
tearing one down When Even Rebels will cease to be law 
breakers; and become tiered of opposing the strong arm of 
Justice and seek protection under the power they have 
Sought to Break down War cannot always last the South 
cannot afford to Ruin their own country and starve their 
Inhabitants; they are human flesh and blood the same 
as the rest of mankind therefore they cannot live in a 
fruitless desert like the Prairie Dog or the Sage hen  they 
must and will and I long to see them offer terms of 
peace to save them from Ruin: When that time comes no 
man will be more glad to Return to the comforts of home 
and the smiles of family than myself Your presence 
will be a Source every day comfort your kind Nature would 
Soothe my indiscreet wanderings of mind when little 
reverses would cross my path. my hopes for the future are 
hopes for you and our wellfare and happiness and to 
that End is my own: I know that I have neglected 
you in writing and have written things that I Should 
not have written and at other times my mind has been 
taken up by other things that I could not convey my 
feelings with the pen; but you are at Liberty to 
enquire of my army associates as to the faith of morals 
and virtue you reposed in me; I am Sorry to say 
that some men in the army on Investigation would 
Show a Spotted Record; and many of that same 
kind have been cut down by Disease
Tuesday morning March [illegible] 1864 
 
Men & Women to live happy must obey the 
Laws of Nature both in Morals and in health 
to Retain a clear Conscience; a person must do what 
they know to be right and Just one to another and betray 
no trust or honor that have or Should be pledged 
and Even the Laws of health Require that man Should 
be Moral; [illegible]; Virtuous: and honest to enjoy 
    health 
the ^ which they are entitled to enjoy; and whenever 
these laws are violated: punishment is Sure to follow 
in Some Shape or other: What can man Enjoy when 
his health is gone? his character gone and Deserted by [illegible] 
honest friends: they are a curse to themselves and a 
neucence in they and to be avoided by honest people 
But when a person has the feeling in their own breast 
that they have done honor to themselves: they can meet 
their friends with open arms and Smiles of virtue 
and Inncence and be appreciated as a friend indeed 
the value of whom could not be Enumerated in price 
Well Lucinda there is not mutch news to write this time 
News Jus came in Town that 14 men was Killed by a 
Railroad collision last night between here and 
Stevenson which is probably true I will close for 
this time: Believe me ever Yours 
 
Thomas J. Davis 
 
To Lucinda M. Davis