London Ky.

Sept. 30^th 1863.

 

Friend Willie

                        I received your kind welcome letter the 26^th. I was glad to hear from you and hear you were all well. I am well and enjoying good health. I never was better in my life than I am at the present time. what is better than good health in the Army. I tell you there is nothing. I havent seen a sick day since I have been out here. think I am as tough as they will average. I had ought to be thankful that I havent been sick. God has been kind to me so far. he has spared me one year. we cannot tell / how much longer he will spare us. I hope the time will soon come that we may all return to our homes. I received some good news from home the other day. Brother Allen had joined the Church. he says he has given his heart to God. he means to live a better life. I hope he is a true Christian. I wish I could say I was one myself. I know I had ought to love and serve him he has been so good and spared me through one year. one year has passed since we came out to fight for the Stars & Stripes. our Regt dont look as it did one year ago. there is only about 200 men fit for duty. one year ago we had one thousand. quite a difference isnt it. we have had one die from the Regt. this week. he wasnt sick only three days. we know not the day nor the hour when we may be called. / Chronic Diarhea seems to be the most fatal disease in the Regt. we have lost a great many by it. some sick in the Hospital sick with it now. one of our Drummers. we have lost two by death. two have been discharged and two sick in the Hospital from the Drum Corps. by the way I will say I am cooking for the Drum Corps I like it tiptop. I made a soup for them yesterday for the first time they said I made the best one they have had for some time. I shant need any one to cook for me shall I! I have left off Fifeing entirely. I dont like it at all.

 

Oh Billie I havent told you where we are have I! we are in London, a very small town. no other troops here but the 11^th N.H. Regt. this is the Post Commissary. we are doing guard duty here. it is getting / to be quite a place. we expect to stay here some time. perhaps all winter. I hope so. we are about 55 miles from Cumberland Gap. Wagon trains go by every day with provisions for the troops. there was a new Brigade went through here. they stopped here over night part of the [?] were Indiana Regts. full Regts. they were pretty green I tell you. some little boys not more than 12 & 15 years old. they have gone to the Gap. Well it seems Georgia is going to teach school in Bedford next winter. I hope she will have good success and a large school &c. my sheet is about full so I shall be obliged to close. I have written this miserable letter in a hurry. you must excuse all mistakes poor writing. give my love to all the folks with a big share yourself.

 

Please write soon.                                                                              

 

From your Friend

E. P. French 

 

[top front margin]

 

P.S. Direct your letter the same as usual. Lexington Ky.

via Cincinnati Ohio.

Park.

 

these clover leaves I picked out of my tent. we have green carpet. I should like to have you look in my tent once. I guess you would laugh.

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