Camp Benton
Feb 14, 62
Dear Brother
I received
yours of the 8th and was
very glad to hear from
you, and was glad to know 
that you was all well,
that dollar that you inclosed
came all right and in return
I inclose my picture on a
plate and you can have it
it put in a case if you want
it I could not get it taken
on horse back. I have had 
two taken and send them
bouth to you and you
can take your choice and

give the outher
to Emma Miller
or you may 
keep them bouth
if you like.
That long looked for event 
has arrived. We are under
marching orders, we have
ben ordered to be ready
to march next Wensday
but whare we do not know
but we suppose to kentuck
When the orders was given
by our Captain last night
at role call thare went
fourth one mighty yell such
as none but soldiers can give
we are to have another suit
of clothes and the rest of
our arms before we leave

We are going to form apart
of a colum of eight regim
ents four of cavalry and
four of infantry what ones
I do not know yet
You spoke of the troops at 
Flint and that they could
not get onley a few out
to drill, thare is not a 
company in our regiment
that avarages 26 men out
to drill thare is boys 
in our company that have
not drilled a half dozen
times seince we have ben
here. Yesterday tow of our
boys got their discharge George
Borden and Alfred [Mesicer?]
of [Iona?] I wish that you
would see [Mr?] Borden and
hear what kind of a
story he will tell fore
		home
he was most awful ^ sick
and let me know the sum 
and substance of it,
the general health of the 
boys is very good, we are
having the hardest storm
of the season now [smudge] [by?] all ods
it has ben thawing up for
the last few days until yester
day when it commenced sno
wing and snowed all nights
and this morning it is awfull
		No more at present
probily before you are answer[r?] [smudge]
this we shall have left I will 
try and write a gain before
we leave here
		Yours as ever
	Harrison Traphagen