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  them to quite a number of men who were going out on picket, cold nights.  They have helped to keep a good many comparatively comfortable I shall not need them any more this season & they are so good yet that I will send them home & hope that by next winter I can wear them at home.  O' if it can only be so how happy will we be, sometimes when I get to thinking about, home & my buisness affairs, I almost wish I was free to go and yet I wish to see the end of this wicked war.  There are many questions you ask me that when I am reading them I think I will answer, but when I get to writing I forget them, you will excuse me, won't you?  The drums are beating for roll call & I will close for to night, good night my Dearest Mary you sleep sweetly & have pleasant dreams.  Good morning Dearest Mary
 The 27th of Feb 1863 finds me at Iron Mt the morning is a beautiful one like a fine April day in Iowa.  I am verry well.  I do not know yet when we will leave here.  The talk is that that we will go to St Genevieve (I believe that is the way it is spelled) 43 ms from here on the Mississippi river.  I do not think we will be likely to go far down the River.  I should dread somewhat to go far south at this season, but am willing to go any where my country needs me provided we are not humbuged & sold & tyronized over by imbecile officers. 
see page 5
