Sunday noon 
             now night 
Camp.Ella.bishop Ky 
Dec 14th I /-62 
Dear Friend_oliva 
I. received your letter a Short 
time Since. I was Somewhat Surpri 
Sed to See two Stamps on it and 
when opend Saw the Courtship of 
Jake & Miss Dolittle. But more 
Surprised to hear or inform my 
Self that you had Alowed your 
Self to Be Carried away with the 
Ideas that there is Solid Comfort in the 
way that things were Careied on at J 
[illegible] or was yuu deceaved in the 
matter. I. think it is a poor 
plan to be Engaged in Such 
[illegible] harmeless plazs are they are 
Called. But they are not 
harmless But prove to be a great 
Injury to the Community of yong 
  folks and I hope you may drop 
the Idea of pleasure in this 
way. But persue the road of 
peace and happyness. By being 
Steady and doeing the things that 
are taught in the Word of God. and 
[crossed out] [may] 
then his Smiles [crossed out] [will] Rest upon 
us  I have Been on duty almost 
all day and. I. cannot think of much 
to write about. so you Will be under 
the necessity of Excuseing me for 
e 
not Writing any more. Common Sens^ 
you Wished to know how and where 
I got Said Wall paper(.) I was----- 
      ailed 
det[illegible] for Fatuege duty and my 
bussiness was to Go to Lexington 
and help Carey the papers and 
Shelves out as the Building was 
   ing 
to used for a Hospital the Build^ 
was as large as about Six [crossed out] [of your] 
Barns like your Fathers and built 
of Brick (.) while Cleaning at one 
Room I found Bushles of old 
Writing paper and found Wall papes
and Rolls of Borders Such as 
   is used on paper Wallas Some 
Was Vey nice and must of 
been Costly & Some to [illegible] 
& Mary I. think(.) [crossed out word] oliva how does 
Barry get along. I. have heard from him in 
some time. [crossed out word] until Albert Spoke about 
his takeing you to a Ball or party at [illegible]  
[illegible] Raimonds. pleas tell him to Wirte 
to me. Oliva please tell Philo that 
I do not wish to have him Judge 
me by himself Because I. have not 
been or felt Homesick one minute 
Since I have been in the army 
I have only felt that I was doeing 
my duty toward my Country and my 
God. But there are Some that are 
Such fine and delicate Bodies that 
they think that perhaps if they Should  
Come into the Army perhaps they 
would be Shot or Something else and 
there fore Stay at Home where thy 
Can have their [illegible] Such 
had better Stay Because perhaps they would 
 
[Written on right side of page] 
 
faint
But I do not think my Self 
that there is any Very good reason 
or that it is Right to Slay men 
By thousands only to Gratify the 
hatred of a few Wicked men 
you Wrote that Mary Wished to have 
me Write [crossed out word] to her. tell her to Write 
to me and then we'll talk about it 
there was three died out of this Reg last 
night one By the name of Barber 
Co [illegible] Guess the other two I do 
not know [illegible] 
you Spok about my being Shocked I have 
Recoverd and all right do you Remember 
the Saying Whats the use etc oliva be 
a good Girl and mind your Ma. and 
Be kind to your Pa & Whats the use 
tell Wiliam to Write & Malvina also 
Write Soon and Il Endevor to 
Better my next letter Excuse  
all poor Writing Writ Soon as 
Received yours truly R E Stout 
    18th Michigan Inf Oliva 
Co. F
Lexington Ky 
it is almost Roll Call