Fort Kearney [illegible in original]
		     November 22nd 1865

     Dear Nell.
	          Arriving here about noon
today I received yours of the 2nd [illegible in original]
and was much pleased I can assure
you to hear from friends and home
again. It was the first letter I had
received for some time before leaving
Denver and I should have been much
disappointed had I not received a
letter from some one
     We are jogging along at a much better
rate of speed than we could have
reasonably expected and promise to do
better between here and the Missouri
river. We have had the most beautiful
weather and roads that any one could
imagine but one disagreeable day
in the whole two weeks we have
been on the road. and that pleasant
when compared with many we

that we seen in this country
last July. Everything now seems
to promise that we shall be home
in a month but as this life is all
uncertainty we do not expect to get
home until we are there. So do not
make any calculations as to the
time of my arrival. Co. “A” and three
other companies are three days ahead
of us and three other companies two
days. It is called 250 miles from
here to Fort Leavenworth and at the
rate we have been travelling Sun
days ought to place us there if
good weather continues.. We have
considerable sport chasing wolves and
JackRabbittss every day and some
talk of going over on the Republican
for a few days when we get into
Kansas to see Buffalo can not say
whether I shall go or not. rather
think not.. I feel almost like a
civilian once more tonight and begin
to think I shall see civilization
in a few days and then I never

     want to see another soldier or hear
   another bugle. “Not any [noon?] on my
plate if you please” I'm going to
marry and become a steady, [sober?] man.
study politics “pschychology” or some other
big words going to the legislature or state
prison. become President of the United
States and finally die a natural death
having [covered?] myself with glory
renown. and wound myself up in
the star spangled banner and let them
gather me to my forfathers milk the
whole conglomeration sticking to me
like a nigger to a backstay in a gale
of wind.
     I am glad to know you got all
your work done as I intend to board
with you this winter and don't want
anything to do. only sleep 18 hours out
of 24. and eat the rest of the time.
Can I do it?
     When you write Cousin Eliza tell
her “Ill soon be there” and a letter for
me with that Photograph enclosed will
prove mighty welcome and will [2 words illegible in original]

prompt attention I have often thought
of writing to her [illegible in original] but not knowing the
date of my departure for a far distant part
of this [illegible in original] sphere I thought her letters
might not reach me and I should never
know anything more about them. I have
told every one else for more than a month
past to cease writing and now I tell you
the same. Don't write but as the fellows in
wife in Albany telegraphed to him in New
York	 when he wanted to stay just one day
longer. “Be ye therefore also ready for
in an hour ye know not of the son of man
cometh.”
		Yours	
			Ed