Pioneer Corps 3rd Div 15th A.C. 
Huntsville Ala April 1st 1864 
        Dear Wife 
As this is April fool day I thought 
I would Sit down and write you a 
Short epistle in answer to your last 
letter dated March 16th which I Rec'd 
yesterday and was verry glad to hear 
that you was well; my health is 
as good as usual though I dont 
Brag of being entirely well but  
reasonably well for me I have had a 
cold nearly all through march but it 
is getting better now; the wether still 
continues unsettled it is raining 
to day and the air is damp and chilly. 
We are still at Huntsville and dont  
have mutch to do only Sit around the 
fire and hall wood and [crossed out word] lope 
around Town though the latter is not 
mutch amusement; I Recd a letter 
from Bro Ike to day he wrote
that the folks were well he said that 
Elisabeth and Louisa had both Just 
Rec'd a letter each from you 
I received another letter from 
Clara Wilson I will send it to you 
I sent you one of hers before but you 
never wrote that you recived it 
The 5th Iowa Regt started home this 
morning on veteran furlough and the 
80th Ohio will start this evening and 
the 63rd Ills will start tomorrow 
I dont think our Reg't the 18th  
will go home now; until the other 
Reg'ts get back and that will be the 
middle of May or the first of June 
and probaly not until fall but our 
officers Still say we will go this 
month but I propose to know as 
mutch about some of our Military affair 
as Some of our officers; for some of 
them are Ignorant and others will 
lie; So I dont ask them for mutch 
council; It is however a rediculous habit
that privates have; to run and ask 
           private 
an officer about anything [illegible] ^ himself 
dont understand Mr Officer as a 
   wise 
matter of course to keep himself ^ in the 
estimation of the men: will put on a 
knowing look and a Brass countenance 
and will often throw all manner of 
Ignorance on the Subject 
     Ed Rogers got a letter a few days ago 
which brought him the sad news that 
his wife was dead he seems to take it 
quite hard: Co C got six more 
Recuirts this week among which 
was Merrick Rogers John Herron 
Hank Sharp and Elijah [illegible] 
the most of the Recruits have been more 
or less sick since they came here 
Merrick will have to get in a habit 
of washing his hands oftener than 
usual if he stays in the army 
I guess Ed Rogers has combed his 
head as mutch as two or three times 
Since he came to the Regiment
I Rec'd the piece of Silvie,s Dress 
you sent me it is very pretty 
I dont think I will get my picture 
taken until I get home for they charge 
big prices for poor pictures here 
I Rec'd those verses you sent me 
I composed a few verses which I 
will send you in answer 
I have no News more to write 
to day      hoping to hear from 
you Soon      I close 
I Remain Ever Truly yours 
T.J. Davis 
      L M Davis