Camp at Kimbroughs Bridge

Near Cynthiana Ky    

June 4^th 1863

 

Bro' Maston

           

Dear Col

                                    I received yesterday your kind letter of the 29^th ult and I improve this early opportunity of replying to it In the first place I will say that I am well and sober, in fact I have neither been sick nor drunk for the past six months. What do you think of that for Parker! Does pretty well dont it

 

            Our Regt is strung out for guard duty on the K.C.R.R. from Covington to Paris a distance of about seventy five miles We spent the winter in building stockades for the protection of the numerous bridges along this line, and in gathering up deserters returned rebel soldiers rebel recruiting officers spies &c &c we done a very good business at it too brought to justice some hundreds of the rebellious cusses Those men that were executed on Johnsons Island lately were formerly our boarders I knew them well /

 

            As you were not acquainted with any of our officers, I will tell you some of their names Our Col is Samuel R Mott formerly a lawyer of St Marys Ohio, a first rate man and a good officer. Lieut Col. Thomas L. Young formerly editor of the Shelby County Democrat at Sidney O. a good officer perhaps the best military man in the Regt. Our present Maj & Quartermaster are from the north western counties of Ohio both very good men, but I think about the best man and officer combined in the Regt is Capt Kramer of Co. B. (Our Co)

 

            I like the service first rate Uncle Samuel gives us more grub than we can eat, plenty of close and pays us promptly every two months My rank is now 2^nd Lt and asigned to Co "B". I rec^d my commission last week.

 

            I rec^d a letter from Frank and Lize about a month ago. They did not say anything about Nick Wierman being married perhaps at that time he had not not done it yet Our friends were all well at that time I would have liked to have heard that debate sure 

 

            I was to the Bury last August it was very lonesome there then It is doubtless more so now.

 

            Bully for the we drop of the Craythur and I am glad that you drank my health hope you can always get it when you want it. I was in town last night and I drank a couple of times to your health and sucksess Here Col is the place wher they have an endless amount of seven year old Burbon they make it in Bourbon County a few miles above here. Whenever I get thirsty I go out to one of the neighbors and never fail to get something good to take

 

            I have never seen Col Ben Bunkle since we have been although 118^th & 45^th camped together for a couple of days I was not there at the time and of course did not see any of them. When you see Ben ask him why the devil he didnt capture Col Cluke at Mt Sterling last spring

 

            Old Harve certainly has a woman that is long for this world. I heard some time ago that he had a young boy if that is so I must regard myself as Uncle Seph musnt I. Rumor says too that I have little one out there in Hardin Co Contraband

 

            I guess I will have to close for the present I want you to write again soon and I will try to write you something more interesting next time

 

            I gues I'll go and take another horn to your Success             

 

 

Lt J S Parker

Co B 118^th Regt OVI

Cynthiana Ky

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