Well here I am on the last page already, I must leave you to glean news from, the press, and talk of home O home sweet home, when shall thy welcome greet me, when shall I be permited to greet those loved ones beneath thy friendly shelter!  Echo answers, only ten months, scant.  This time will soon roll around & let us hope with it the funeral knell of rebellion.  Then the thousands of hearts now pining for the the love and sympathy of home will swell with the glat shouts of a disenthralled people,  The emaciated frames of the brave thousands languishing in loathsome prisins, will stalk forth to the sunlight of liberty with (illegible) hearts.  O! what Joys await millions on that day.  But with what anguish must other thousands be wrung when those who left their homes for the last time buoyant with hope never to return, but let us turn from so sad a picture.  My mind sadens when I think of our own dear boy, that we cannot even hear from him.  I do not know whether he is one of the fifteen thousand Cavelry with Kilpatrick under Sherman or whether his Regt is in Tenn. 
As to our buisness affairs at home I will say nothing at present having written I believe in all my letters on that subject for six months.  I was amused at Ems. style of submision to my criticism on her Style of writing - I will answer her in a few days.  The clouds have broken away to some extent, and I feel better to day than I have for quite a while, I am in hopes that I will enjoy good health from this forward.  The great dificulty is to get provisions suitable to keep in health, variety is verry small - Too much hard tack & bacon, coffee &c.  But by being cautious I think I can endure it - ten months (Scant) as the boys say)
 It gives me pleasure to learn that your health is so good - and that you are enjoying yourself so well.  I know that you are with true sympathizing friends & those too congenial.  Give my love to father & mother & all the friends to Aunt Sarah & all my cousins, & may our Father keep & guide the my own dear wife is the constant prayer of yours, Lyle
