Dear Wife,-

I cannot say that I am gaining any and if not going backam thankful. I feel badly all of the time and have quite a fever. Do not worry about me as I have requested George Beebe to write you if I should be taken worse and not be able to write, so you will hear right away. But I hope I will begin to improve soon. Alex H. is getting better but is very thin. He looks like a living skeleton and if he takes a relapse it would go hard with him. I think his lungs will trouble him for some time if he does get better. Your letters are a long time coming through. Your last was dated the 4th, mailed the 8th and I received it the 13th. It was just as well as all was news to me, only it was a long time to wait. I also received two letters forwarded from the Regiment, with money and stamps enclosed. I have plenty of money now but would like to have Uncle Sam pay me what is due me. It will come sometime. My pay is going on,- I get the same sick or well, in the hospital or in Camp. In one of your letters received (via the Regiment) was a plan of a house which I do not altogether like for a home. I could not find any pantry and should I live to go home I shall want to find a large one. And if I build a house for ourselves I shall have a large room for provisions. That is how I feel now. I do not intend when I get home to live on wormy crackers and bacon, coffee and tea sweetened with molasses, mush or bread and molasses, sour corned beef, nor raw salt pork, as I have to when on a march. I have eaten raw pork and hard bread when it really tasted good. I would prefer cooked food and relish it better when Mrs. C. prepares it.