Stevens Depot Va Dec. 31st 1864. 
in clement weather men are generally working to get quarters built. Our mess, composed of Lt. William W. Hiatt, a brave noble youth, of only 20 summers, although he has served 3 1/2 years faithfully, is 5 ft. 9 1/2 inches high light complexion, Auburn hair, Blue eyes, and rather stoutly built. Barney Markle 5 ft 8 in. high, heavy built, aged 23 years, light complexion, dark hair and grey eyes. Philip Rhoads, aged 18, (Recruit) dark hair, Black eyes, dark complexion, and myself, aged 25 years, have served since July 12" 1861. am light compexioned, grey eyes, dark hair, rather stoutly built, 5 feet 7 1/2 inches high. worked last night untill 12 P.M. carried logs, and brick to build a chimney, for a shanty 8 by 12 and to day we built it, and are going to sleep in it to night. But it is the first shanty built in the brigade. 
January 1st 1865.
 Weather very cold and men suffer severely, in their small shelter tents, it is almost unendurable. and they labor constantly long after night fall to complete winter quarters. But they have the material all to carry one half mile.
