No. 10 Camp Patterson, Mo. Dec 14th 1862 
My Dearest Mary:
 This is Sunday & I am seated in my little tent for the purpose of holding sweet communion with you & O my dearest if I could only spend this day with you at home how happy we would both be.  It is Just now raining teribly hard.  the ground is getting like a pool of water.  It has rained a good deal for the last 48 hours. the creeks & branches are much swolen  I should like to know whether it is snowing up in Iowa to day or not.  when you write tell me about it & how deep the snow gets to be at any time this winter.  get the depth from Austin or Stewart or some reliable source as folks in town are often mistaken or deceived by drifts  Others will get news with regard to the weather, temperature &c  I want corect information. If it should be raining up north as it is here it will the put the Mississippi River in good stage for navigation so  that our forces on the river can operate with more effect.  I must say here before I forget it that I am in the best of health.  The rest of the boys are well except Billy he has a cold & sore throat but is better this morning.  Marion is verry healthy he is our  Co Comissary.  he is liked very well.  He performs his duties impartially & promptly.  his duties are to draw provisions from the Quartermaster & divide it out to the different messes.  It is a dificult & unpleasant buisness.  I would not do it. My! how it rains it is so dark I can hardly see to follow the lines  11 o clock AM
