Dear Mary,-

I wrote you only two days ago but this morning is wet and dreary and I feel as the weather appears. I feel a loneliness that I cannot drive away so thought if I would talk to you a while it might leave me. As I cannot talk face to face I will put it on paper and it will reach you in good time. You must excuse me if my letter is dull as you are to remember it is to drive away the blues that I am writing today. And here comes another thing to try my patience, a poor pen. I have undertaken to write this letter so will do it, as my disposition is to never give up.

I went to Tallahoma which is fifty-five miles from

here toward Nashville, to Division Headquarters and was

mustered as First Lieutenant yesterday. I did not expect to

get mustered until Captain Culver returned to the Regiment, but friends are often useful to us, so in this case.

Lieutenant Robertson of our Regiment is on General Williams'

staff, also the mustering officer. Lieutenant Robertson told

him how I was situated so he told the lieutenant to write me

to come to Tallahoma and he would muster me and now a bar is

added to my rank and a little more pay.

I am very well and so are the men. They are well-clothed, well fed, have good quarters and plenty of duty to perform.

I would like to have a play with Ella and a good talk with you but must postpone it until a future day. I ought to be thankful and hope I am, that I have been so much favored since my enlistment. I have been promoted twice and have been home twice. Have been through six days' fighting and came out all right.

With love,

R. Cruikshank.