30th 62
        Holley Springs  Miss   Dec.
                          Dear Father
        I write to you once
more to let you know
the condition of my heal
th.  I have been very
poorly   I have had a
spell of the fever I
could not get to a
hospitle  their was none
close  I am well only
weak   the doctor
wanted me to go to
the hospitle yesterday
in this town but I would
not do it it was a nasty
place  I believe that we
are on our road home or
maby I would have gone
to the hospitle  we were
50 miles south of here

and we have marched
back all the troops down
here are marching back  
I think that I will be
at home in a month.  I
think they have made a
compromise   I got ten
letters yesterday   7 from
home   two from Henry  1 fro
m Nurve  Combs the latest
was dated  Dec 6   I am
glad that you have
traded my mare off for
three colts  if they are
good ones I would like
to have some of that
cider and apples   I think
I will be at home before
long and then I will
try some of them   it is
no use to send me papers  
I got the roosters  I am
anxious to see them colts      

          I think when we
start on the next march
I think we will go
to Memphis and then
we will take a boat
and go home  I hope we
will anyhow  it is 35
miles to Memphis from
here I ride in the
Ambulance wagon  
I am not able to walk
yet more than a mile
without arest   tell
Mother that I am
all right   I think I
will see her before
long  tell her not to
fret about me   I am
the same Ben only
I will steal a little
to eat but that is no
harm

I think the war is
over  our letters have
been at Holly Springs
all this time   I think
I will get some more
letters in a few dd
days I did not get
enough  ten was only
a taste for me 
I must close my letter  
write as soon as you
can and I will do
the same   if we go
to Memphis I dont
know when we wil
get any letters   I can
do without awhile
to get home   I saw
Wilson and Jim
a Christmas   they
are stout and harty.
[letter unsigned]