Ieuka Miss Oct 21, 1863

Dear Catharine I will write you a
few lines to let you know that
I am well we have just got to this
place we are one hundred and twenty
miles southeast of Memphis we come
through a very broken country and poor
land the timber is mostly Pine and
chest nut the land is not as good
here as it was down a bout Jackson
I dont know how long we will stay here
our men is fixing up the railroad
from here to Chata nuga it is a
bout 150 miles from here to that
place I dont know wether we will
go a long the railroad for gard or go
to Chata nuga I think we will stay
here for a few days we have not got
our pay yet but will get it before we
leave here Marsh and John Miller got
here last night I dont hear any talk
of furlowing at this time all the ar
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mies is on the moove now but I
think when they stop they will
furlow a gain I got all that you
sent by Mar[s]h I was glad to get
a pair of suspenders for I needed
them you cant get a pair here
for less than one dollar and
they are not very good ones every thing
is high that we get from the sutler
it is raining to day we are all in
our tents me and William is writing
we have a good big army here I do wish
you could see the wagons that is here
there was Seven hundred waggons come
with us from corinth with us the
string of waggons was seven or eight
miles long it is a sight to see
troops on the march the 58 Regt
is camped a bout a mile from here
I think I will go and see Hunters
boys and old billy Folwell
I love to see a man from Indiana I
dont care if I never saw them
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before every man loves his own
state I saw a regt of union soldiers
from Alabama soldiers they are strong
for the union there was sixty men come
from Alabama last saturday and got
guns and went back with our cavalry
to fight the rebbels they are union
men and has been hid to keep from
the rebels they say they are lots of
union men in alabama our cavalry
has gone down thare to give them a
chance to come to our army
I dont see any signs of this war
ending soon I beleive it will
last until we have another
President elected but I am for
old Abe if he offers a gain
Hen is well and so is will sullivan
and william steel we are all
ready and willing to go any plac
that we are called for I cannot
think of any thing more to write
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at this time but I will
write a gain soon I have no
stamps and you will have to pay
the postage on this letter we cant
get stamps here

Catharine keep in good heart
for I think I will get home this
winter I am in good health at
this time I will fetch my fife
with me when I come home
you must write often as you
always have done and I
will do the same

Hugh Gaston

Catharine Gaston