I think there is nothing that a man that who loves his family prizes so highly as a fair likeness of his wife & children, I value mine above all things else, I take your & Cyrus likenes out often & look at them, & wish the war was over so that I could be with you. But I must not dwell on this subject.  I would be glad if I could tell you something about where we were going to but I have no idea.  one rumer is that we are going to Little Rock another that we are going to Galveston Texas  There is one thing certain there is a considerable force collecting here.  I know that you will watch with interest the movements of this Brigade  There is one thing with regard to this Brigade that is unpleasant.  We are under a tyranical Dutch Colonel, Col Dewey has written to Gen. Curtis about it & we are in hopes that there will be a change in favor of own Col.  He is growing more popular with his soldiers than when at Des Moine. There was one regiment of cavelry came in to day, There will be a battery here in a day or two in adition to the one here now. the Cannon are drawn by six horses one rider to each span of horse.  It is a pretty sight to see them on a quik turn. I must  close & go out on drill I will try & write some more this eve
