in the field and let the Rebs make the first overtures, as it is certainly their place to do so.  From the best information I can get from all sources, the Rebel army is reduced to so low state of discipline & so much discouraged & so depleted in numbers that our armies can now march over their teritory in any direction & in small force, so that we are enabled to divide our armies into detatchments.  In this case we can in a few months literally lay the country east of the M Riv waste.  The last four months has been more disastrous to Rebel interests than the same lenghth of time during the war & the Spring Campaign will most certainly give us their entire army and country.
 There are some rumers afloat, with regard to French & English recognition, but those countries will be slow to recognize a cause so hopeless.  These are my own views of the case and may be verry incorrect.  So much for matters in general conected with the prosects of the probable duration or end of the war - As to my own case, my health is good, since coming down here my throat feels entirely well.  I assure you I am glad to get out of Ark.  Capt Jennings is at the Hospital yet & may remain there for months.  Mart Ramsey is waiter at the same Hospital which will suit the Captain.  I suppose as he appears to have quite a fancy for any thing, from "Rising Sun"  With me it otherwise.  I am getting along first rate & only wish I knew whether Jennings would come back at all.  If every thing was squared up to the present I think I could run "the machine" through without any dificulty, & posibly with some honor to my Self & better half,  You will no doubt see by the tone of my letter that I have not the most exalted idea of the capacity of my Captain, since I have taken Command there have papers come to him from the War Department referring him to certain paragraphs in the Regulations with reference to stopage of pay on acount of certains Ordnance Returns not having been made at the
