No 13
 Camp Chase Near Vanburen Carter Co Mo Jan 7 /63 
My Dearest Mary:  I received your precious letter of Dec 28th to day, (14) & this evening I recd No 13 so you see that I have had reading matter enough for one day.  I am very well.  My health is good almost all the time.  This evening I have a slight headache this evening owing I presume to the anxieties of the day.  We held an election to day for 2nd Lieutenant & I was defeated, yes my dear wife after all that has been said, I have to bear defeat.  I might say we for I know that you will feel as keenly the defeat as I will.  for I can almost see the sympathising tear fill your womanly eye.  I do not know that I can say any thing to allay the pang of disappointment.  I will briefly state the facts. knowing that you would prefer these to any thing thing else.  There has been considerable talk about the matter for two months, quite a number of my friends. kept at me to run for it when the time came, many promised to vote for me. but when the time came they failed me, Sunshine friend.  The old story that I had
