Camp Dennison Feb 14th 1862

My Dear Wife

It is with pleasure that I now sit down
to answer your letter I was sorry to hear
that William had to leave Balies before
he had his traid learned I hope he will
get a good place to work before long
I would not advise him to go into the
army for it is a hard place for a Boy
to go and another thing is there is no
more men wanted at this time if
there was I should not say any thing
against his going but as it is I think
he had better not go you wrote
that you were told that you were
better provided for than most of the
families were that was left well I
dont know how well the rest are
[page 2]
off but I know you are not any to
well off but I done the best I could
to make you comfortable till I could
get some pay and god knows that
I expected to get some pay before this
time but I have not got any pay yet
and I dont know when we get it we
are expecting it all the time and if
we dont get it before long I dont know
what you will do if you get out of any
thing have your father get it for you &
we will pay him the money for it when
I get my pay I dont know how much
per month I will get but if I oly only
get fourteen Dollars I will have
about Seventy dollars by the 20th of this
month coming to me if we get our
pay by that time you said will
told that he heard that Charles Reeves had
got to drinking it is not so and that
about Willie Wolcott I dont think is
true for we dont see a women once
a week ondly some Old Dutch Women
[page 3]
that Peddle apples here and they
look worse than Hogs so I dont think
he went off with one of them at least
I never heard that he did I believe
that I have not spoke to a women sence
I came to camp Dennison You must
not believe any thing you you hear
about us heare till you know where
it comes from when the capt got
back I asked him if they had not
got all sorts of stories about us up
there he said the damnedest you ever
heard there is all sorts stories
going around in camp & some
hear them and then write home
when there is no truth in them
and that is the way such lies get
up there about us the truth of the
matter is that we have the best
company that is in the rigement
and the Best and most Orderly
rigement that was ever in Camp
Dennison if you dont believe it
[page 4]
some one that has seen the rigements here
I dont mean that we are the best drillers
but the best behaved set of men [1]
[page 5]
it is quite cold here now there
was quite a snow fell last night it
is the most snow that we have had
it was about four inches deep this
morning and it is the coldest that
it has been sence we got here it is
not half so cold here as it is up
there I suppose you have had some
verry cold weather there but we
have not had any verry cold
here Blood stood it first rait
to come the Orwell Boys are all
well I have got pretty sore eyes
but I guess I should get them cured
up soon I am as well as I ever
was otherways I cant think of
any thing more to write now
I wrote to you yesterday
nothing more at presant but
I remain yours as ever
T M Covert