Camp near Gravel Springs Ala..
 Half a mile from Tenn.. River
in the woods in a log Shanty
covered with tents
			Jan 30th 1865
Dear Lucy
		      once more
I take my pen to write you 
a few lines the last letter
I received from you was on
the 12th the last I wrote to
you was on the 15th we went
into camp here on the 26th
since then I have had no
time to write we are orderd
to fix up winter quarters
here how long we shall
stay time will tell
we have been short of rations

lately have not had anything
of any accout for the last
five days la little corn meal
once or twice the closest
[living?] we have ever seen
thare is no chance to forge
anything from the country
for thair is about 35000
mounted men camped within 
a few miles of us and they
have taken everything eatable
we are about eight miles above
Eastport on the River
anny who feels just as I feel
now will think of the good things
at home and I if feels very
patriotic you may call him
true Union but I suppose
it is all for the best
hope so at least this is
all for the present when I
get something more to eat I
will write more hoping this
will find you well I will stop
			Othniel

     Jan 21st last nights
mail brought me a letter
the second one for this month
you wanted to know about
John Rawson I have heard
nothing from him only what
you have writen I dont
care to see him he maynot
be sent to the regiment
but kept under guard at
some other place for a while
You say you saw a letter
at your Uncles that did not
speak very highly of Frank
I wish you would let me
know who wrote it
not that I am anny afraid
of its injuring him or me
but I would like to know
who the thare is that is minding
others buysness     if I had
as good a place away from
the regiment as he had I would
like to see them get me back

the officer in charge of the
hospital offerd to get him
a detail from Gen Thomas if
		 m
he would stay I^ glad to
here that the young folks
a enjoying themselves this
winter I dont think I have
received all the letters you
have writen to me the only
reason I have not writen
oftener is want of time and
a place to write
		    O.E.G