[illegible] the 1864 
     Camp of the 18th Mich Infty 
   on South Bank of 
   Tennessee, River 
Decatur Alabama 
Dear Brother. & Sister 
              with respect 
and Brotherly love, I write you 
a few lines. I have not heard 
  [illegible] 
from you, ^ only by way of others 
since you left Nashville. 
we are now at the [illegible] in 
the Northern district of 
Alabama one came to this, or 
crossed the Tenn River 
one week ago this morning 
we have since been on duty 
at three different [illegible] 
we like the place very well, as far 
me I had much rather be here 
than in Nashville although 
we have some harder work
at times we work some [crossed out] [of] on 
[illegible]. but your short 
Experience of Camp Life and 
wha you seen of Soldiering 
could not [illegible] to of convinced 
you that a Soldier would not 
hurt himself by work we 
are out [crossed out] [about] pretending to work 
about 6 hours a day. we have 
two reliefs, and do not work 
any more than half of the time 
alloted [crossed out] [us] us for work 
the weather is warm and sultry. 
I have been out on Picket once 
24 hours, and once out on Scout 
which was night before last. [illegible] of our 
Regiment went out. at 8 PM and 
got back at 3 an the folowing 
morning. Some tired and sleepy 
one saw nothing of importance 
save the Country, which is very 
Beautiful. we went out about [illegible] miles 
the Evenings previous to this
  the Scouts saw the Rebel 
     Pickets not as far as we went 
     and they are scouting around 
   the Country nearly all the time 
they seldom Shoot on Picket. 
3 or 4 days since a few Rebs came 
in under a flag of truce, only 
5 I think were armed, they brought 
in two cannon they only came 
to our lines, the Captans 
Shook hands, and after talking 
a little Parted, we expect to go 
out about 18 miles. to a place 
called Cartland, in a few days 
and see who is there 
the Rebs hold Memphis again they 
   had quite a [illegible] fight there. 
we do not here much news here. 
there is no papers published here. 
we sometimes get a nashville Paper 
the Boys are well. and in good 
Spirits. A. Carver is left on 
the Boat, Dan [illegible] is here
as my pen, Paper Ink 
& Writer are all [illegible] poor 
I think I will close. I dont know 
as you can read this. tell our Folks 
I am well.     A.WBarber 
Please addess 
Co F, 18th Mich Infty Decatur, Alabama.