#67

		Hd QrS CoM1St
		  Mich Engrs & Michs
		Elk River, Tennessee
Dec. 31st 1864 Dearest It has been some time
Since I wrote to you the communication
has been cut most of the time between
here and Nashville Most of the time since the 30th 
day of November yesterday the cars run through
for the first time I know that some letters
have gone through but they have been sent
by teams and a strong guard I have sent one
letter during the time I received one letter from
you when I was at Murfreesboro ten days ago
and one to night about fifteen minutes ago
was just getting my paper to write to you as
the mail come through I am glad to hear that
your are well Except your sore eyes I hope they
will be well soon. I fear you Indulge too
much in weeping but I hope not I am well
you say [Bent?] Says they were Skating in Nash-
ville when he came through I guess that is
one of Tims large stories for it has not
froze over half and inch thick here in [no?]
one night you say some of the women done
not sleep with their husbands for six weeks
after they come home well if I think if I
dont come home as sound as I left it will
not be my fault So you need not fear your
dream coming to pass I always was suited

with you and I always intend to be I shall
not meddle with anything down here in the
form of women.  If John had heard to me
and left his business as he ought he would
have done well enough but he would have his
own way and he always will let him suffer
the consequences I dont think he will get
home on furlough this winter I dont expect
to get a furlough at all but if I can I shall
try next may or April I have been very busy
making muster Rolls for the past week we
mustered to day I shall have to go to Murfreesboro
Monday to get the accounts of Clothing of the men
in that detachment we have to settle for our
clothing this payday So you See I have got
business Enough for the present I have got to
settle the clothing account of all the men in the
			            for one week
company I have set at the desk and shall
for one week from daylight till dark and
shall have to for two weeks to come. You
say you will charge me three dollars a day
for work now I think that is rather too
much but I suppose I will have to stand it
as I am here and cant help myself. folks
all stand ready to take advantage of a
poor soldier.  Iff the hurricane comes

	Dec. 31st 1864


over your mansion before I come home I hope it
will leave my dear wife and children for I
believe God will answer the prayers of his
children I believe you will not have to fight for
my country more than one year more before
peace will be restored again. I have not thought
of lengthening my time as you predict but
would much rather do it than run the risk
of a draft in the an Infantry Regiment for
I dont think I could stand it to go with
the Infantry. I hope. the happy time will
soon come when we shall not have to depend on
our pens to converse with each other God
grant that time will come soon come
  Expect
I suppose it is very cold there now I
am sorry to see the cold weather coming on
for it wil be so tedious for you to be
all. alone well I will do Enough Better when
I come home than I did before I went away
to make up in part for your suffering while
I am gone.  If Mr Huntleys Daughters Husband
		               here
Has got a Mistress down ^ he is unworthy the love of
any true woman if Men will indulge in Sin of 
that kind it is no more than many do but they
are unworthy to be called men they are nothing
but brutes and far below the brutes

those boxes of Goods you speak of was
Goods belonging to the Engineer Depart-
ment they were public property. Hoods
plans have entirely failed and he is driven
back defeated and disheartened with the
				            of his
loss of about twenty thousand [illegible in original] men.
     I suppose I shall have to close
this for want of room. Kiss the
children for me and a pleasant good 
night    May God bless you and protect
you.   Pray for me and I will pray
for you.  from your husband

		Simeon A Howe