#4


		Elk River, Tenn. Nov. 6 / '63
Dear wife I have at last got to my Regiment and
had a very good time I am well except a slight
cold we had good beef stake and warm biscuit for
supper after getting here and have had warm biscuit
all most all the time since we live much better
than I expected but not quite quite as nice as
you can cook but no reason to find fault
I wish I could send you a hard tack so you
could see how they have been lied about. we
went to work the first thing and built us a
			      -8
log hut large enough for eight of us and went
of about six miles and tore down a house for
lumber to cover it and then we built a brick
fire place in it. We are rather crowded for
room but that is nothing here we have not
got much of any wet since we started. This
is the best Reg. and the best Com in the Army.
I am going to write to the folks in Montcalm to day
Thomas did not meet me in St. Johns there is 12
of us in our mess all from our town and Essex
but one he is from Ovid all good boys. I want
you to take good care of yourself and the children
	         any
and dont fret ^ about me. I should like to be
with you but then I dont fret about anything
as long as I am well there is some hard [pits?]
here but not half so many as I expected
I dont think of as much to write as
common this morning. There is a camp
rumor this morning that we shall leave
here this morning but there is no certaintly
of it. when you write Direct to Com M
first Engineers & Mechanics Reg. Mich. Vol.
Infantry via Nashwille and it will
come let me be where I will as it
will follow the Reg Tell Arden and
baby that papa is a good ways off but
he will come back in good time iff
the Lord is willing tell Helen to be
a good girl and the first chance I get
I will send her something nice
We rode over the Battleground of Stone
River and two more small fighting
ground where the broken wagons and
dead mules and horses lay half des-
troyed and now and then the grave of
one or more of our noble boys who
laid down their lives in defence of
their countrys liberty. there is no
copperheads here like those in the
North. give my love to all inquiring
friends one of our Reg't was caught

		Nov. 6, 1863.


by the rebs the day before we got here and
we sent out 30 men after him but could not
find him but captured a reb Brother to the
one that was last seen with him and
shall him as hostage till the other one is
delivered up  .  Good bye my dear wife at
present. may God bless and protect you
from all harm and may it be his good
pleasure to let us all meet together again
in a peacefull country blessed withe the
blessings of liberty. From your own old man
			Simeon Howe
N.B. Direct to 1st Reg Mich Engineers & Mechanics Com M

Send that five dollars in Illinois money
that belonged to Uncle Nate in a letter
write woon.  good bye
		          SH.