It is now time that I retire, but as to morrow will be a buisy day I will write a while as I prefer writing to my loved one to sleeping.  We have now to go through the following exercises daily (except sundays, when we only have regular inspection & dress parade.)  At 8 A.M. Company drill. 1 1/2 hours, at 11 hear the Non Com Officers recite a long lesson in the tactics, At 1 1/2 P.M. form on the Parade ground, & march near a mile to the prairie, & have Brigade drill from 2 to 3 1/2 Dress parade at 4 1/2.  Officers recitation at 5 1/2, about 120 pages.  What do you think of that for a days work?  To morrow Capt will be Brig Officer of the day, so that I will have a pretty buisy time of it, (for an invalid).  Well my dear girl, I know that the way I have written to you about the state of my health will lead you to think that I am about used up, & I am admonished that I can never endure the hardship I once could, but I have great faith in my naturally robust & strong constitution, to recuperate when I shall have the opprtunity,  A few months at home under your care will bring me out all right, & I have the pleasant satisfaction that even if my constitution is wrecked, that it has been done by honest efforts to serve my country properly, & that my health has not given way under the influence of disipation or licentiousness as some have.  Do not understand me to say this boastingly, I have never done more than my duty.  I have tried faithfully to do that, I am feeling better to night than I have for weeks, & hope that my cold & cough will disappear.  I not I will either offer my resignation or aply for a leave of absence. I feel as if I would like to remain with the Regt until our time is out.  Then I have some hope that the war may end even before that time, but I suppose I am too sanguine, but few officers think it will.
