#10


		Bridgeport, Alabama Dec. 8 / 63
Dear wife mine it is here to-day and as camp
life hangs heavy on my hands with nothing to do
I have to let my mind dwell on the loved ones
far away in the cold North where the winds howl
while I am in the service of my country. as sit
and think you all me thinks I almost see your
loving faces and hear the precious voices of
the loved ones at home. well perhaps I shall
be able to enjoy them once again I should
like to press my lips to those I love. but
enough of this I am well and hope the
same of you all. I will now give you a view
of our house imagine us in a  house made
				    about
of cloth 8 of us in one room. [illegible in original] 10 by 12 feet
with a stove in the middle made of sheet
iron about as large as one of the those camp
kettles Lyman had to boil sugar when
we first came there the sides of our room
we made by digging a trench about one foot
deep and split out slabs 3 feet long and set 
them up on end in the trench and then
filled it up then pitched our tent and
fastened the bottom to the top of the
slabs. we have four beds for 2 in a bed
			      one
one pork barrel and flour barrel and two 

hard tac boxes for a cupboard and then you
have a good description of my Shebang. John
tents four or five tents below on the same line.
about 3 or 4 rods apart we are in the best of
Spirits I have not been sick since I left home
we dont hear anything from Will or Oscar
since we left them at the Hospital at Nashville
I dont know the number of the Hospital they
are in O letters come right here and we cant
send them back because we dont know
how to direct to him Will was very sick
when we left him two weeks ago last
Sunday. John is well H & E Bassett is got
rather bad colds but are not much sick.
Joel Smith sleep together he got a letter from
home Sunday for the first time. I want
some stamps or I shall have to stop
writing for they cant be got here Send
your and the childrens likeness in
                         cases
letters without frames because I cannot
carry the cases with me I should like to 
look at your profiles once in a while
I will stop now and go and get Suppers Good night.
Dec. 11th well it is bed time but I must
finish this letter I have just finished
picking over beans for dinner to-morrow
			Dec. 8th ll.


the fire is all out of the stove and the rest
is all gone to bed so I shall have the candle 
to myself I got a line from Will wednesday
he is getting better Oscar is in new buffalo, Indiana
in the Hospital tell Mr luse to sow about two
bushels of oats to the acre and try and fall
plough if possible. we have got stoves in
our tents so we are all right it dont freeze
much here yet the ground is dry and warm
it is very pleasant weather here. Get a buck
to put with them sheep if you have not as
soon as possible. I am well as ever Camp
life agrees with me first rate I should not
wonder if we went into winter quarters here
they say it will not be much colder here
than it is now. Write as soon as you
get this write every week well I must stop
and go to bed tell bade to say his prayers
for pa wants him to pray for me all of you.
May God bless and protect you and give us
all the blessing of health   Good night from
your husband	
		Simeon Howe