Head Quarters 4th Mich Cav
	Camp Stanley March 3d 1863
	    Dear Lucy	
		        I have been 
     looking for a letter for a nu
     mber of days but it has
     not come yet & I thought
I would write you a few lines
we are orderd to be ready in
the morning for a six days scout
and I shant have any chance to
write in that time I had just as
[lives?] be out on a scout if it
is good weather as to be in camp
we have had a goodeal of rain lately
and it has been a little unplesant
camping out but we can most
always get a board or rails to 
lay on we have just drawn our
rations for three days which we have
to cary with us & three days in the waggens

maybe you would likke to no what
we draw to eat Hard Bread and
Bacon Coffee & Sugar the Bacon looks
rather hard but it is good enough
for a soldier I supose ill we will
steal something better I bet befor
we are out a great while. it is
most night now and I have not
time to writ much cant write
you much news for I supose you
get that befor we do we have had
a good many little Fights with the 
Rebles they have always run mey-
-be we shall have to do some
runing before long but I dont
think we shall hurt our horses
runing away from them but I
		brag
wont [illegible in original] much
we are having some wam wether
here now looks like Spring wheat
& grass begines to look Green
and I dont care much how quick
the weather gets warm for it has been rather uncomfertable

     the Boys that are here from
		well
our way are all ^ except Angle he
dont get much better yet he is
able to be around and that is
about all Daveid Wardle has got
Home before this [two?] I supose
Leuther Merritt is bad of I see him
the day that Wardle started for
home: I wish I could see
you for a little while I could
talk a goodeal better than I
can write but I dont suppose
we shall see each other very
Soon at the best for I dont
See any prospect of the war
closing very soon but I will
try and be content with my
lot and make the best of it
I can we have some first rate
times and some that is not so
good I have not time to write more
accept this with the many good wishes for your welfair of
				Othniel