To Aunt Kate Baker
          Camp Stoneman
                 Jan 23rd /64

Dear Aunt,
                I have atlast
taken my pen to
write you a few lines
hopeing they will find
you and yours all
enjoying good health,
     I have often thought
of you, and as often
thought I would write
to you - but owing to
a lack of time and
material - (and partly
neglect) I have not .
Done So. Well Aunt it ..
is [illegible strikeout] no more than
right that I make some
excuses for my seaming


neglect - you [illegible strikeout] are
no doubt posted on
the movements of our
cavalry the past summer
it has been a series of
hard marches and battles
picketing and patrolling
so that the soldres could
hardly get time towrite atall,
                   will
hopeing you ^ accept my
excuses for the past and
I promice to do better in
the future, I am now
at Dismounted camp wateing
to be sent to the front
as soon as the Doc in
charge thinks my health
is good enough to stand
it - but I Dont think it
will be untill I get a furlough
the Doc has promiced me
one but I Dont see it
yet, I understand that

     Sol has enlisted I
     hope he will not
have to serve long.
Some think that
the war is a most
over, I hope it is, but
I think that we shall
have another campeign the
next summer, blooddeer
than the last. the rebs
are not subduded yet
althoe they are badly whipped,
     Jarrome I hear has
lost a leg, I am very
sorry for the poor fellow
I have always thought that 
I would rather loos
my
head than to loos a limb
but a soldier must
take it as it comes.
I have no news to
write you this time

hope this will find
you and the little ones
[illegible strikeout] well, If you have
time to spare and
can write a line to
me I should be
very happy to hear
from you Have you
herd from Deb whare
is she, I have never
herd a word in regard
to her Since I have
been in the army.
     I must now
bid you good by for
this time, You must
excuse all mistakes and
poor writing
     Accept my best
wishes and believe me
as ever your true friend
to Aunt Kate       Er