E Tenn
Camp near Knoxville
January the 26, 1864

Dear Cousin Mary Jane
I again
take my pen in hand to
try to write you a few
lines in order to let you
know that I am well at
present and all the rest
of the Montezuma boys are
well except uncle Billey
Presten he is verry sick
I wish he was at home
for he is too old to
stand the services

We are comped six miles
from Knoxville where we
expect to stay all the
winter for the rodes have got
so bad that its impossible
[page 2]
to move artilry suffetion
to do much
I dont think that
the rebs will let us
alone they come in a mile
of here the other night
and captured a squad of
our pickets,

Well Mary Jane I wish
this was was over for I
would live a good deal happ
ier at home than here
for it appeares like that
times are getting harder here
on the soldiers every day
but I dont like to tell
for fear of my folks greeving
a bout it but its
my self that put me
here and I have to stik it
out Well you say you
are going to leave old mercer
well I hope you will
[page 3]
find a nice Country and
if I get home I will
see you if we live if
your move a thousand
mile of I tell you
that distance would
not keep would not
keep us a part if I
was free Well I will
have to close write
and tell a bout your
Mr Colins I belive that
he is all right for
he has a cousin in
this company,
Well I close
To his never forten
Cousin Mary J

PS you must excuse
this poor letter