Camp Near Fairfax Oct 30th 1862

My Dear Wife
It is with
pleasure that I now sit down to
answer your verry kind letter of
the 23rd I was real glad to hear
from you & to hear that you was
well there was six postage stamps
in it I have not reccived the
one with the four stamps yet but
perhaps will get it tomorow I dont
kneed them now for we have got
our pay I suppose you have got
the sixty dollars I sent you by this
time Henry Sager started for
home last night I tell you
was glad to see him start for
home but still I haited to loose
him for he was such a good boy
[page 2]
but then he will be a great deal
better off at home than he could
here I have not done any thing
at saddling yet becaus I have
not had any tools I tell you I
have been sorry a great meny
times that I went as saddler
I would go into the ranks right
off but I cant reduce my self
nor the officers cant reduce
me I am carring the mail for a
few days but will quit it soon
I just do it so the Col will not
miss Henry till he gets his discharge
he is intitled to his discharge but
the Col is such a contrary old
cuss he would not give him a
pass to go to washington but
he got a pass from Gen Seigle
or the Provost Martial I dont
know which Henry was
regimental Post master & if
the mail did not come the
Col might miss him
[page 3]
I told you I had the best horse
in the company but one of Gen
Beardslys ordrlys offererd me five
dollars to traid and as I had
found out that my horse was
not sound & was clumsy I
traided I now have got a pony
& the boys say it is better than the
other I know I would not
traid back eaven
Porter Tinan is regimental
Quartermaster now
you now buy Edie & Katie them
dolls & get good ones no odds
what they cost
I was sorry to hear that they boys
in the hundred & fifth suffered so
bad but I hope the wounded ones
will get well still doubt if they
do for if a man is wounded bad
he is almost sure to die
there was one of our regt wounded
the other night at Thoroughfare
gap & he died in a few days
[page 4]
I dont know his name he
belonged to capt Cryers company
well I must close for this
time so good bye Husband
From your affectionate
T M Covert
P A C

I will send you a fixing to carry
Postage stamp money in