Stevenson Ala Sept .27th / 64
Dear wife I sit down to write you that I am
well and yet in Stevenson the wheeler raid was a
miserable failure the country now is infested with
bands of Guerrillies So that General Sherman
has ordered the burning of all the fences and
houses and hous every material that will make
a fire except where we have stations and Soldiers
to guard them. for one mile in width from
Atlanta to Nashville along the rout of the rail
road. well I think it will make some of the
Secest grunt that have such grand Houses
and splendid farms this is the fate that
this whole country will have to suffer if
the war dont close for Old Abe will bring
this war home to the rich. 25 of the men
of our compa went out this morning to
burn every thing on ten miles of the track.
we are doing garrison duty here now because
the infantry have most all gone to chase
old wheeler. I suppose that Roddy and Forrest
are trying the're luck now some where
between here and Nashville so the cars
have not run now for two days I have
not got any letter from you this week
I dont know when this letter will leave

here for the trac is probably torn up
some where but I dont think that Forrest
will have any better luck than wheeler
did the Block Houses are a terror to them
they can neither burn them or knock them
down with cannon ball nor can they get
our boys to Surrender them 17 boys of the
Mich 4th Cavalry got in one of the Block
Houses and wheeler came up with 2000
men and orderd them to surrender they
told him they would not do it he said
then he would not be responsible for the
conduct of his men if he had to fight them
they told him if he could not take care of
his own men they could do it for [illegible in original]
him so he attacked the block house with 
cannon and musketry all to no purpose
for the Mich boys killed fifty of his
men and he had to back out and leave
part of his wounded on the field.
I think I will not write any more about
the war. I would try and write oftener if
the mail would go out regular. I hope you
will try to write every week if you dont
write only a few lines it is so cheering
to get a letter from the loved ones at home

		Sept. 27th, 1864


to know that they are all well or even to know
just how you are all getting along you have
never told me how much wheat you had this
summer nor how much oats I know you
have had a very hard time with so much on
your hands besides poor Mothers sickness and
death to wear upon your mind but I hope if
nothing happens this war will be over before
another year rolls around. does the little boys
grow any do they learn any and do they send
lots of kisses to their Pa do you think you
have got fodder for all the stock you have got
I am glad you went to the tent meeting and
I should like to have been there with you
Well pray for me that I may live to see you
on this earth again and that I may live to
enjoy the peace of home and friends and
Serve God in the bosom of my family
this is my constant prayer. Good bye
from your husband
		           Simeon A Howe.