#47
Stevenson Ala Dec 24th 1863
Dear Wife
I will now take this opportunity to write you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along I am well and hope this will find you and the children all the same, It is very cold here now had a very cold night of it last night I lay rather cold towards morning as my bedfellow got up to go on guard, I am not in the pioneer corps now have been took away from there and have to tend to guard duty now am on duty to day for the first time, I did not like the Idea very well of shifting my quaters for I had got my minde made up for a prety good time this winter I dont know for certain but rather expect that I shall have to be on duty every other day have got a shanty to live in but it is not near as good as the one I left we intend however to fix it up in a little better shape as soon as we get time, Sidney Dickinson has got back to the Regt he arived in Stevenson night before last he is going to stop in the tent with me now there is three of us together now Sidney and a chap by the name of Prescott and myself individualy Shermans Corps is going back from Chattanooga I believe they are going to Huntsville some of them are leaveing this place this morning they have been stopping around here for a few days and kept pretty well set most of the time they dont seam to like the army of the Potomac very well they sware about them damn Connectticut fellows we have a guard out about every night Patroleing the road so if any of those fellows are caught round drunk they are shoved Into the stockade I heard one going by night before last whare I am stoping cursing and swearing about the army of the Potomac but I guess they will find that the army of the Potomac is anough for them, I will send you another check in this letter it is one that I bought of Pratt of our company as you will see by his name on the check I sent mine Tuesday night I hope you will get this in season to send away with the other I have not received any letter from you since Sunday night I expected another along last Monday night but it did not come nor hadnt up to last night I shall look for it to night and hope that I shant get disapointed Tell Edgar that I am real glad to hear that he is trying to learn something this winter and hope he will stick to it untill he comes off conquerer tell him to write me a good long letter so I can see how much he improves tell Frank also that now is the time for him to learn I want he shuld learn to write read and spell well tell him to write to me in the next letter that comes from home, Tomorrow is christmas I wish that I could be at home to enjoy it with you but as I can not I shall try and do the next best thing that is to try and enjoy myself whare I be, I will close by sending all of you my love & wishing you all a merry Christmas
From your Husband
A.C. Smith
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