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After waiting and
looking, a long time, for a letter
from home, Mary's reached us a
day or two ago, and gladly was it
received and read, telling us all the
news and that you were getting so
much better.[2] I hope you will be
careful of yourself, and still continue
to improve until you are entirely
well. Mary said Father and
Uncle John were talking of coming
to see us. I am very much
afraid they will take it out in talk.
However, I hope not, but will look
for them before long. If they dont
come, I hope Emmett will, as he
spoke of doing. I expect though
he will not be so anxious to come

here, as to Manassas. I wish he
could have gotten there, to see
the whole Army and its chief dignitaries.
There is only one brigade here and
a few militia, so there is not much
to be seen, except a rich and very
beautiful country. The brigade
(except our regiment) has moved has
moved about five miles below
Winchester. We go to-morrow. [3]
There is, not yet, a sufficient number
of wagons to move all the regiments
in one day. We havent been able to
find out any thing of the policy or
intentions of Genl. Jackson. Nor
can we get any reliable information
of the enemy. One day we hear, there
is a large force at Romney and the
next, that they have left and are concen-
trating near Williamsport: that Loring
and Henry R Jackson will attack them
in the rear, and we in front: but
still we see nothing indicating a
movement of any kind. [4]

General Jackson sent Major Preston (of the
Institute) his Adjutant General, to Gen Lovings
Headquarters, last week, but I dont know for
what purpose.[5] He left the ground covered
with snow. That army is having a very hard
time, and will suffer this winter, if not
carefully provided for. We have had very
high winds and cold weather lately.
We burn a great deal of wood, build large
fires at the doors of the tents, and manage
to keep tolerably comfortable. [6]

If you can send us a comfort, a good wide
one to cover us both. Send the boots the
first chance. I'm most barefooted.

How did Tobbin ever have sense or
courage enough to ask that girl
to have him, or walk out on the floor?
Nobody need ever despair of marrying
after that; the most despondent and
most often rejected can take courage.

We expect to be paid off soon for July
and August and probably for September
and October too. If we get all it will be
quite a pile, about $70. The Government
is too negligent about paying up. Most
of the Company are out of money.
Send us the cost of all our clothing, that
of each piece. An order has been issued
to send for all absentees, who are
able to come into service.

Will Uncle Andy continue his
business in Alleghany?
Much love to him Aunt Sallie
and Aunt Betsy and all the rest.
Has he found a name for his boy
yet? Mr. Reed sends his love to
Aunt Betsy.[7] Why did Dr. Walker
resign?[8] Is he tired of the service?
If you all dont write oftener, I
think I can charge you all with
carelessness as you have done us.

I hope the Yankees wont give us a chance to fight them this winter. If they dont make any more raids into Virginia I think there is a chance of going into Winter Quarters, otherwise not very soon.