Indianapolis Indiana 
     Sunday Jan 8th 1865 
        Dear Wife 
I will write you a Short letter 
this morningt to let you Know that 
I am in tolerable good health 
and hope this will find you well 
I wrote you a letter while I was 
in Chicago and Sent you two 
Rings which I Supose you have 
received before this time. 
We left Chicago night before 
last at 9 Oclock and we [crossed out] [left] 
arrived here yesterday morning 
at half past nine. we meant 
to have left last night for 
Louisville but we failed to  
get Transportation So we will 
be Obliged to lay over here until 
tomorrow morning as there is 
no Trains runing on Sunday 
There is more Snow here than 
there was in Chicago but it 
will not last long as the weather 
is mild and thawing, though it 
is too cold to Sleep comfortable 
in Barracks I went to a Hotel 
last night and had a good bed 
to sleep in. Jake Clear was 
arrested in Chicago for Murdering 
a Norwegian by the name of 
[illegible] who Kept Store on Coon 
Prairie. [illegible] was going to Lacross 
for Good about the time Jakes 
furlough was out and as they 
had formerly been old friends 
Jake Started to ride with him 
as far as Lacross on his Return 
to the Reg;t . The Norwegian was 
found Murdered (with his Skull 
Brokeni in with an axe) near 
the road on the Prairie about 2 
miles below LaCross 
 After Jake was arested 
he Confessed to the Murder and 
Said that he got two Hundred 
and Twenty five Dollars from 
the mrudered man but Expected 
to have got a mutch larger Am't 
Jakes Photograph was found near 
whare the Dead man was [crossed out] [foun] 
lying. It was one of the most  
Brutal Reckless and Shocking 
murders I have Known 
Jake was taken back and 
Lodged in the LaCross Jail 
to await his Trial 
I have no more news to write to 
day So I will Close 
   I will write again Sooon 
Direct your letters to Nashville 
        I Remain Your Soger Boy 
 
T J Davis 
  To L.M.D.