Nashville Jan 10th.1864 
 
Ever Dear Brother & Sister 
             once more 
I occupy a little time in writing to you 
we that are here. are usualy well. I saw 
Ralph a few moments ago. He is at the Bank 
James & [illegible] Carver are writing. I think both to 
their Woman. but I am not fortunate Enough  
to be thus Priveliged. so I will write to Brother &  
Sister. Since the last day of Dec it has been very 
cold for most of the time. Murcury has run low 
it went down once or twice as low as 10 degrees below 
zero. which is very cold for Tennessee, we have 
not seen much Snow yet. it snowed about one 
half an inch at one time. I have seen quite a number 
improving the time with their Sleighs on the half 
inch of Snow. [crossed out] [the] I have heard of a number that was 
frozen to death on the Cars. & Picket & [illegible] 
it is often Remarked in the North. that the climate 
will not admit of White labor as far South as Tenn- 
well I dont know as it would. Especialy for the 
past 10 days. the Citizens go around all bundled up 
but I imagine we will see different times by the 
4th of July next I think it will be warmer in 
a few days. where I was Patroling last thursday 
which was a very cold day an old man came to
the Door. & invited us in to warm. we of 
course accepted the invitation very readily. 
after seating our selves by the Fire place, the old 
Woman (for they were old People) came in with a plate 
of Pie. & gave to us. & we did Eat. after we had 
warmed we went out on our Street. they told us to 
stop again. that day we found three Drunken Citizens 
for which we got $1 apiece. so we divided the money 
which made us a dollar a piece, so much for that days 
work. very seldom we have as good luck as that 
yesterday I was on Patrol again we caught no one 
but was treated to some very nice Cakes. & to the Cigars 
but as I did not Smoke, I took & gave to those who did 
they are fetching in seats. in this Room, & the 
Bugle sounds for Meeting, so I will stop writing till 
after meeting 
Monday 11th I will now try to finish my letter 
well yesterday we had a very good Meeting. the  
Preachers text you can find in 1st Timothy, 17th Chap 
& 15th Verse. the weather is a little more moderate. today 
A. [name illegible] Adjutant he is now Major in the 
1st Tenn. [illegible] Regt
I guess I will have to stop writing, for I 
  can think of nothing that is worth writing. My 
mind is somewhat confused today. but if I were 
there we would try & find something to talk about 
when I recon the time that I have been absent I find 
it a long time. a little over 16 months I have been 
from my home, & when I consider how I have 
improved that 16 months, & when I look around 
me & see how Sin & vice are carried on Even in the 
18th Michigan I do feel to mourn. truly we have 
Every reason to thank. & Praise Him. who has prospered 
us thus far. we are a favored [illegible in original due to tear in paper], we have been 
kept from the Battle Field, & from Disease many  
times. although more are risk now than have been 
before in some time. but I hope they will all 
soon be well again 
I sent some pics to [illegible] by John Skerm 
erhorn & have never heard whether she recd them 
or not, & I wrote to Oliva to know if those 
pics were put in right I dont know whether 
they should be as those are or cross ways 
I am agoing to send you & Oliva one Each 
after I hear how to put in the [illegible]. some here 
says one way & some the other so I wrote for 
a decision. no more at present 
Yours as Ever 
A W Barber