mailed on the 18th quite an entervail
between writing and mailing. in all
I sent you 4 letters in October and
as yet they are all unheard from when
you write always mention the date
of the letter or letters you are replying
to. I was as usual glad when reading
your last letter to learn that you
were all well and that my father
was still able to move round long
may he be able to do so. when lying in
my Bunk during my sleepless nights
and the are not few occasionally I
pray to the almighty for a man can
pray even in a hotbed of wickedness
the midnight hours seems to be the
most suitable time for su devotion
as at that time Satan seems to be
chained for a short season. in my
prayers I remember you I implore
our heavenally father to give you
health and existence so that you

may be able to look after the
children especially the little girls
that are so tender and young I
have been laboring for the last few
weeks under a heavy depression of
spirits that along with the sickne
-ss has reduced me to a state of
poverty that were I to present my
-self before you unaware I think
you would have some trouble in
recognising me, if something
do not turn up before long to stop
the th war I never expect to see
home alive death will end my
captivity if I never should see the
enemy but I expect we will have
some sharp work here before
long I have got no pay yet but
had we remained ⇑in Newbern we
would have been paid before
now however I think the pay
-master will soon come here

and pay us when I will send
you all I could ⇑can spare -
we left newbern on the morning
of the seventh inst. and arrived
here on the evening of the 8th
all is hurry and bustle here
now putting guns in position
fixing quarters &c the mail
is closing and so must I give
respects to all you and
the children