[Written upside down on top of page] 
 
My Health is good the boys are all well 
          from our parts 
1864 
Nashville Tenn March 25th 
Brother Wm 
         Your kind letter of the Date 
of March 13th came to hand on the 20th it 
was welcomed with pleasure its contense was 
perused with pleasure & Satisfaction   Was glad 
to hear of your good health & that of your Family 
also of the improvement of the Health of our 
Friends hope their health's will continue 
to improove untill They enjoy good health 
again    I Suppose as you Say that there is  
a differance of Opinion as regards the termination 
of the war & the establishing of peace We like 
Others have our opinions respecting these things 
But Time alone will devellop the final 
result But it is very natural for us in 
the Army to look over what has been done 
& examine the means used to accomplish thus 
far & then compare the circumstances & means 
passed through & used with the Situation &  
means on hand   May we not reasonably expect
all things working equal that the Rebellion 
will be brought to a Severe test during 
the comeing campaign let us hope that they 
will be brought to their Senses 
But I am Sorry that the people of the  
North Should differ as to purpose in the 
final results The Object Should be to put down 
the Rebellion & then Settle any differances 
of Opinion that may arrise about this or that 
policy at the Ballot Box   The weather here 
has been qutie dry & cool for Some time past 
there was a change last Night it rained Some 
also raining Occasionally to day the dust is 
not flying to day as yesterday 
There has not yet been published any plan 
for the comeing campaign but the activity 
Seen in almost every department indicates work 
by & by    There is Various rumors as to the 
18th Reg't of. Mich. Vol. Inft afloat Some of 
our men think that we Shall not Stay here 
a great while longer for my part I do not 
feel as if I careed much wether we go or Stay
It may So happen that the 18th Michigan will 
have a chance to proove wether they are cowards 
or not we came out to fight we expected to 
fight long before this & now if we get a 
chance we will try & See if we can fight 
& I expect that if the 18th is ever whipped on 
anything like an equal chance after that the 
18th will be but a Small Reg't 
But what Shall I Say of those who for fear 
of being drafted left their Country & Sneaked 
off to Canada if they choose to make that 
Country their homes then perhaps it will 
do but how will it be if they wish to come 
back when peace is restored you can Settle 
that in your own mind 
Brother Wm To Day finds me Just 41 years old 
as I have it I was Born March 25 1823 
  the wheels of time is fast passing us away 
a few more fleeting days & this mortal life 
with all its Joys all its Trials & conflicts will 
end But after the Ordeal of Death is passed we 
are taught to beleive comes an eternal State of
existence either of Bliss or Remorse & as we are 
Taught that it depends on our own choice here 
which of the conditions falls to our lot hereafter 
It is Said that Life & Immortality are brought 
to light in the Gospel   It was Said by the 
Apostle to the Gentiles that they who were 
patient in the continuance of well doing 
Seeking for glory & honour & Immortality were 
to receive Eternal Life & Jesus Said to 
His Disciples I came into the World that 
ye might have Life & that ye might have 
it more abundantly 
Let us therefore look to Jesus as the 
way the Truth & the Life 
Of all things els let us be careful to Secure 
That Inheritance which is incorruptable undefiled 
& that fadeeth not away 
   May God Bless us with His Spirits presence 
to guide us in all Truth & prepear our hearts 
for his Service & may Love gratitud Adoration 
Praise & Thanksgiveing ever flow out of our 
hearts to Him for His Goodness & Mercy to us 
To Brother William   I am your Brother 
James Lickly