In camp near Falmouth
                                                                                                            Jan 8^th 63

My dear Osborn

                        Your kind letter came at a time when I needed all possible encouragement, and among the many kind and friendly words that I received none gave me more pleasure, or served more to add to my strength and confidence than those from yourself and Mr Sturgis. Coming from persons with whom I had served so long, and from whom I had received so many marks of friendship and confidence they were truly of great pleasure to and satisfaction to me. I sent them on to my poor wife who is quite almost as much in need of encouragement as I am. As you can imagine she is in the greatest possible state of anxiety. You can scarcely realize my dear Osborn the difficulties by which I am surrounded. they are too many to attempt narration, but by God’s assistance I will do all in my power to overcome. Some day if we are spared/to meet again I will attempt to tell you of them. The number of hours that I am absolutely at work may be imagined by knowing the fact that it is half past two in the morning, and I have much yet to do. But the work is nothing, if it only brings about the proper results, and that can only be done by doing everything with a will to accomplishing the greatest amount of public good, and asking God for his assistance with a full faith that he will always grant it in His own good way if we. I do wish I had time to write you a long letter, but if I were to attempt to it I should’nt know where to begin or where to end. You must remember me most kindly to Mr Sturgis when you write him, and tell him how much I thank him for his very kind letter, and with much love to Mrs Osborn and the children I am as ever

                                    Your sincere friend
                                                A. E.[?]

Remember me most kindly to Douglas, Walters/Phillips, Ackerman, Waters, and in fact all my friends in the “Building”.

            I thank both you and Douglas for your friendly offers of assistance, and I may have to avail myself of them, which I will do, feeling sure that it would give you great pleasure to aid me in any possible way.