Mouth of White River Nov 27th/64 Dear Sister
I received=last evening while on Picket=your letter of Nov 14th I was much pleased to hear from you once again. I do not feel very bright this morning. I was up most all night on Picket so you need not expect much of a letter from me this time. I feel something as I used to while at home after being out late Saterday night. only good deal more so.. instead of setting up (five words crossed out) a few brands of fire by the side of an old dry tree in the wilderness of Arkansas where Deer. Wolf. Bear & Rattlesnakes abound in great abundence. You spoke of my being so down on the copperheads. Well I am rather down on them but I refrain from talking about them lately for they have about plade out. Since I last wrote to you I have received three papers. Tribune and two Gazetts.. John Rader got to the Regt on the 18th all safe and sound. he brought me two pr socks and a Cap.. please let me know how much the Cap cost.. John. Melve. Will and Ellick Finley are all well. we are still liveing in our log shanties. we have no Drilling to do but we are on Picket pretty often.. today it is quite warm and pleasent but has the appearance of a storm. we have had some pretty cold days since I last wrote. it froze a bridge over the mud sollid enough to hold up a horse. cold enough to freeze water at noon.. if we had not our log huts with a good fire it would have made us dance round pretty lively to Keep our right understanding. but how long we will be permitted to enjoy this nice fare is yet for us to learn. tis rumered about that we are going to the Army of the Shenandoah Valley.. it may not be so if it is I suppose you have heard of it. for you generaly hear where we are going before I do. there is but little news of late we do not hear much from the Armies anywhere. Sherman is making a big brake for some where but we cant learn where it is.. I expect we will hear from him after while if he dont get lost.. tell Orve he must look out how he runs off to Canida to get rid of the draft. for the British Government does not harber American Soldiers or Citizens any more if he goes there he will be enrolled in the Queens service. the steamer Mollie Able came down from up country this afternoon. but she had no mail for us. I expect a Steamboat would be quite an object for you to see. I would like to have you take a ride on one like they have on the Miss down here. I would not like to have you take deck passage “though” as I have to when I ride on them.. I guess I have wrote about enough for once. give my best spectaters to all peoples. (six words crossed out) Write and let me know how the yong & rising generation and folkes in general are getting along no more at present from your humble sarvant Lu. Carhart..