Apr 27 1864	
Dear Mary I set my Self down
to wright you a few lines
hoping that these will find
you and little Claire well
and all the rest I am So [nervous?]
it is almost impossible for
me to write I have been in
the hospital sick with the
[illegible] five days and am not there
yet but I am getting better
now I think that we Shall
leave Coldwater tomorrow but
we cannot tell for certain
we have So many rumors here
we cannot tell what to believe
but we must go pretty Soon
that we now one day we will
have marching orderS and like
enough the next day that will
countermanded that is to Stay here

well I have not told you
how bad off I have been there.
was about three days that I
could not sallow anything
off any amount it hurts me to 
sallow a teaspoon of water
at a time the night before I came
to the hospital I had a chill
all night the next day I had
a high fever I shall Stay here
in the hospital until [illegible]
away it is more quiet here and
we have better living and a better
bed to Sleep on [illegible] is
here in the hospital with me he
is getting better now Mary I feel lonely
although I am in a crowd without
you and Claire Oh how I wish I
had my little Claire to [illegible] and Sing
to but I am afraid it will be
a good while before I Shall See ether 
off you again but we meet hope for the best

a great many off the boys
are homesick but we all have got
to Stand it I have written one letter
to you before I dont know whether
you got it or not if you have
I Shall expect a letter pretty Soon
the letter you need not answer
until you here from me again
because I cannot tell where I Shall
be we Shall not receive any money
You while we are in the State.
and I cannot. till when we [Shall?]
I presume we Shall not in Some
time I Shall be pretty destitute
off many for awhile the vaccinate
ion that I put in my arm did
not work I Should like to know
whether yours and Clary did
or not if they did not you had
better have it tried again well
Mary I do not know as I have
anything more to wright at present

Only take Care off your
as well as you can and
hope for the best
So Goo by From your
     affectionate husband

I forgot to put the
number off the [illegible]
on the first letter I write
you