[Written sideways on top left side of Scan 1]

Oh tell Freddy I wish 
he would write to me
I want to know if
he has got-
ten the letter
I wrote
     to him
be a good
boy Freddy

[End]

[Written upside down on top of Scan 1]

tell Augustus I was glad to receive his letter & will
answer it soon

[End]

[Written on top of Scan 1]

the dearest spot on earth to me
is home sweet home
in early days I taught my head
to love my home sweet home

[End]

General Hospital
Mill Spring
November 12th 1862

	Dear Mother
		         yesterday I was
made happy with the reception of
aletter from home from Augustus
Oh how glad I was to find that
letter could still find its way to
me, for I had began to think I could
not get any more letters from
home or friends, as that was the
third one I have recd from him and
I tell you Mother I began to feel a
little discouraged about writing for I
 have written almost every week since
I have bin away and I have looked
for letters until I had almost given
up all hopes and as I was at work
yesterday building a chimney to one
of our Hosp- about half past

eleven Will came along up with
some letters and says to me do you
want to see me old [illegible] and I
told him yes if he could behave
himself and he came and handed
me two letters one from Augustus
and one from friend [Jane?] you cant
think how they cheered me up but
I was very sorry thare was no news 
about Alvah nor Eddy for I want to
hear from them very much, but
Oh Mother you cant think any thing
about what a soldiers life is
thare at home, but I have had
		            st
a fine time here now for almo
two months but I expect it is
about over now as we are about
to be moved to our regts soon
for they are going to send some
of our men from here to
Washington now soon but perhaps

I shall not go from here when
	  they leave but if Will [goes?] and
	    I think he for he is so
smart now, I want to go with
him as I have got to go by the way
or Washington to get to my Regt
but if I knew I was going to stay
here I would have you direct here to
me for I think that is the reason
why I have not recd more letters from
home but I have expected to leave
here now for a long time and &
I thought I would not tell you
to direct here and I guess you had 
 letters direct the old way still.
Oh Mother have you had any snow
out there yet we had quite a snow
storm here last Saturday it snowed 
most all day but did not last long
today it has bin raining some it is quite cold
here now but I and Will have a good room
                                                                                           d
upstairs in the house with eight wounde
men besides Will but we have a room all

to ourselves and I tend him and 
bring wood and water for the ladies
to cook with downstairs a fireplace
and stove and yesterday I went out to
help build a chimney to a tent as the 
men that are on [police?] duty have bin
building a stone wall around the 
graves of our poor boys that have
died here our grave yard is 100 feet
square and in a very plesant place
and now entirely enclosed with a stone
wall. but Mother I think I have done a
little good since I have bin here for all the
Doctors say if it had not have bin for me
Will would have bin in that little yard
long before this but thank God he is
now almost well but I have had a hard
time to get him where he is. Monday he
went over to Keedies Ville which is about half a
mile from here I did not want him to go but
I could not keep him any longer. and so I went
over with him he stood the walk as well as I did
myself so I think he is all right for he felt
first rate all day today. now Mother I want 
you to write me a long letter as soon as you 
get this and tell me all about matters at home
especially Mrs. White and your other neighbors.
tell Sarah that I have not forgotten her if
I have not mentioned her in this
she must write) this from your
most loving Son
             Good Bye                    Marsh