Fort Clinch Fl
December 16th 1863
Dear Sister Ellen
Your letter of the 21st came
to hand today and I was verry
glad to hear from you once more
it found me well and I hope this
may find you enjoying the same
we have verry fine weather here at
present there has bin one frost here
this winter it was about the first of
this month I received a village record
with W A Guest name on it I
suppose that mother sent it I am in
verry good helth at present I weigh
160 pounds I am about as heavy as
ever I was I have not got much
news of any consequence to tell you
for there is nothing much a going
on here we have a first rate string
band here that plays most evry night
[page 2]
We have a verry nice
time here we have no duty of
account to do and we can lay in
our tents and sleep or clear out ware
ever we please
I was up in the town
yesterday and I saw three substituts
that tryed to desert but they missed
it they got out through the picket
line but they had a a stream about
two mil wide to cross and they could
not get across it and old colonel
Guss sent a scout out after them
and they got them they have them
in irons when I saw them it
is thought that they will be
shot I received a letter from
Samuel Happerset and one from
Howard Steen there is several
stores in the town but they sell
things verry deer there is some
of the substituts that is hard cases
[page 3]
It is not safe for a fellow to
leave his pocket book in their
road if he wants it any more
there was a lot of them got at
a fellow to rob him but he had
nothing and it made them so mad
that they stabed him on the
backside I suppose there will
be a big time here a Christmas
they are a going to have a consert
up in the town ther is about
thirty angles in the town
When you write again I want
you or Louisa to send me some
Postage stamps
Well I must bring
My letter to a Close by wishing
you a happy Christmas no more
at present but remain your
Affectionate Brother
John Guest
Co A 97 th Regt PV