Benton Barracks
		Jan 19, 62

	Dear Brother
		I received
yours of the 12 th 
this morning and was
very galad to hear
from you I am swell
at present and hope
that these few lines
will find you the
same The weather has
ben pretty savear for
the few days but it is
softening down now again
You wrote that thare was
a rumor that we was
a going to be disbanded
thare is such a report and
has ben ever scince we
have ben here but
I do not credit it much
all though it may be
the case for thare
is a good deal more
cavalry in the survice
now than they can use
I want you to write to
me and let me know what
kind of a chance thare
is a going to be to work
next summer for if I cant
get 12 or 13 dollars a month
I will reenlist if we are
discharged and go to
Kansas with [Jim?] Lane
but if I can get any thing
worth while I will come
home If our regiment is
discharged our want to
rare a company of free
rangers and if he does
I shal go with him
any how then we may
see some survice but
as we are it will be 
six months yet before
we are fit for the field
we have not got a wagon
or mule yet in fact we
have not got any thing
Tell those boys that is
enlisting that they might
better stay to home for
they are not needed and
thare is no use of ecspose
ing their health for nothi
ng With as soon as you
get this and let me know
what kind of a prospect
thare is and wheather
father has got that money
that [illegible] to [Latterette?]
and that of John [Landis?]
and that Fentonvill
murder affair and what 
is going on all around
thare
	No more at present

Give ing love to all
	Yours as ever
Wm H. H. Traphagen