Norfolk February 14th. 64

Dear Sister Emma

I take
my pen in hand to answer
your letter of the
seventh whitch I received
last night I was glad
to here that you was
well and having a good
visit with Chauncey
I would like to be thare
to but it cannot be so
I must be contented whare
I am it is not but six
months and fourteen days
be fore I can come for good
then I shall not be a thinking
of the time when I shall
have to go back and stay
three long years be fore
I can see home and enjoy
[page 2]
the comforts of life and
have the privilidge of goin
when and whare I am a mind
to and stay as long as
I am a mind to without
getting it wrote on a piece
of paper whare to go and
when to come that is what
makes me sick of a soldiers
life I like a soldiers duty
well enough but I do not
like to have a master
I think that I am just
as good as enny boddy
as long as I behave my
self but I am not considerd
so here a private is noboddy
nor is he considerd to no
enny thing he is not about
to speak his mind if he
does he is put in the guard
house or court marshaled
for it I dont no but
[page 3]
you will think that I
am home sick but I am
not nor haint ben since
I have ben in the army I
have never asked for a
furlough but once that
was when I had a lame
hand. I tride my best
then but I never shall
ask for one again if
they offer me one I shall
take it but never ask
for it I got the box
last monday and found
evry thing in fine shape
I never saw a box come in
better shape the butter is
the best that I have
seen in a long time I do not
no but you think that
I had forgoton all about
home the reson that I did
not rite no soner is because
[page 4]
I have not had time I have
ben to work for the assessor
the past weak collecting
taxes I have earnt seven
dollars the last week and
I mean to earn more the
week to come it is pretty
hard work but I get good
pay tell Charles when you
see him to not feel hard
toards me for not writing
to him oftner for I do not
get time to write very
often and I do not feel
like writing mutch to
day it is hard work for
me to sit down and
write a letter I had
wrather do most enny
thing else than to
write a letter I guess
that this will do
for this time for
dinner is ready we have
got st[e]wed beans for dinner
form your brother A. Holcomb