#51 Waterloo Alaabama February 28th 1865 Dear father I seat myself to answer your kind letter which I received a few days ago it was written on new years day you will no doubt think it strange that I did not get it sooner I left the regiment the twelfth of December and went to the hospital perhaps you would like to know why I went there I was not Sick I have not been Sick a day since I have been in the army.  last fall at franklin tennsssee when our regiment was mounted I was out in the country after forage my horse got scared and jumped off a bridge and hurt me severley the doctor Said I was ruptured
