Scotsborough Ala Jan 15 64

Catharine I take my pen in
hand to answer your letter dated
Jan the first it come to hand
the fourteenth inst and I am
glad that it found me in good
health and I hope this will find
you all well I have nothing strange
to write to you we are still at the
same place we was when I wrote last
we have got our cabbins finished and
live very cumfortable here we have
five woolen Blankets and three
oil Blankets and two over coats
on my bed me and William and
John d Miller sleeps together me
and John both drawed new Blan
kets and we sleep worm we have
not had any cold weather here
yet to day is cloudy and the
ground is muddy it a fine thing
for us that it is not as cold here
[page 2]
as it is with you or we would be
apt to suffer the boys has a good
deal of duty to do bu[t] they dont mind
mind it the old Regts is going home
as fast as they can get transportation
they have all gone in to the veteran
service there is none allowed to go
in but Regts that there times is
out next summer I am glad they
have gone in a gain for we will
have drilled men next summer
in the place of raw troops all that
has gone in get a furlow for thirty
days that is the reason that we can
get fulows I think when the rebs
gets to hear that the old troops
is going in for three years more
they will think that the north
is not getting to get tired of
the war at all there is lots
of men in our Regt that would
go in a gain but for my part
if I live to serve my time out
[page 3]
I will come home and go to work
on the farm if it was not for
you and the children I would go in
a gain for I like a camp life
it is true we see some hard times
but we for get all that when
we are in camp I dont think
we will have any fighting to do
soon for I dont hear of any
rebs being near here I dont hear
any late nuse and I cant tell
what the armies is doing you get
the papers and get to hear all that
is going on I got the paper you sent
in the letter giveing the discription
of the Battle at Misionary Ridge
it was a tolerable good description
as far as it went but he could
not see the whole lenghth of the
lines the line of battle was fifteen
miles long but I will not write any
more a bout that at this time when
I get home I will tell you all about
it
[page 4]
when I get to writing to you I
and the children it bring you
all before my face and I take
your pictures and look at them
until my eyes gets dim I then
shut the case with a sigh and
and wonder how long this war will
last to keep me a way from
home But I am here and
expect to be contented un
til my time is out and you
must do the same dont get out
of heart nor think the time long
for it will soon roll around
and then I hope I will get home
safe and sound Bless my sweet
Children how I do love them I
am glad that never did a buse
them and I do hope they never
will be a bused I know that
they are Mischeiveous but you
must bear with them I will close
Hugh Gaston Catharine Gaston