Kate you ought to receive the money by tomorrow

(Friday) night. let me know right away when

you receive it              Tom

 

Camp on Queens Farm Jan'y 30/62

Dear Kate. I received your letter yesterday afternoon just after we had been paid off and was very glad to hear from yourself and the children. tell the boy's that I got their letters and was glad to hear from them. I send this money to the care of Kelly and hope that it will arrive safe at home it is all that I can send to you and I wish it was more for your sake but on account of building our new tents and some other things connected with our clothing I have had to borrow some money from the officers and had to pay it. first as I promised I send you twenty eight dollars and I would / like you to pay Doctor Bethell as soon as you can without any trouble to yourself for as long as I am away from home I would like you to keep every thing paid up as much as possible so that no one can say that I owe them any money. Pay day in camp is a great sight. each company as they have their pay roll signed by the men march up to the place where the paymaster is and as their name is called they walk up and the money is counted out to them and before they can turn away the Sutler pokes his bill at them and skins them out of nearly all that they have. Some of the men are such fools that they spend all their money before pay day and I believe that the / married men as a general thing are the worse. their are some men here that I know have families at home that do not send any money home and if they do it is not over five dollars for two months pay and their wives and children have nothing but the relief money and it is hard to tell how they get along. I have charge of a very fine body of men. The Companies are divided off in squads five squads in a company and my squad is the first and composed of the tallest men in the company and they are all first rate fellows but they are like all the rest they will have a spree after pay day but they will do almost any thing for me and I do not have / any trouble with them for if I want them to do anything they will do it if they have to fight. they call me their chief and they told the Captain that if we went into a fight that they wanted me to lead them so you see that I am right side up with the boy's. After paying what money that I owed here and sending the 28 dollars home I have 65 cents left which I will try to make out with till next pay day for I do not intend to leave any money with the Sutler unless I cant help it for I see enough of the bad effects of men running up an account on trust I will have to have some money to pay for my washing, for the weather is too cold to wash myself the weather is very bad, rain, snow and hail almost every day and the mud is nearly knee deep, and shoes are no account. I see that Hugh's letter to you is about the same as mine was I suppose that you received it. Kate get the notes changed into silver or gold as soon as you can and dont keep them on hand. I am glad to hear that the baby is well and hope that his eye will get all right yet. You say that you are in first rate health and are so fat that I would hardly know you I am very glad to hear that is the case I think it must agree with you very well to sleep alone. how does it go dont you often get awake and wish that I was there if it was only for an hour or so. to tell the truth I often wake up and not thinking where I am begin to feel for you.                      

 

Write soon and let me know   Yours  Tom

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