I have got to write something to keep me awake for it will not do for me to go to sleep and let the guard stand over two hours What is the general opinion up there do the people think that peace is night nigh at hand or do they think that we will have to figh them for years to come yet Feb 2^nd another month has passed into oblivion and another has begun and it commenced rainy enough too I tell you I come just about as near having the blues now as it is necessary we have been living on corn and flour with out our other rations in full and no way of cooking the flour except making it into pancakes and them mixed with water and salt with but very little [?] is not the best of eating There is about 30 steamboats lying down here at the landing I have just been down and was to nearly all of them trying to get some soda or something of the kind I did manage to get a can of baking powder for one dollar but that is the price per pound that we have to pay for soda I begin to think it time to be getting some mail I have not/ had any for quite a long time past and that is not all I am getting tired of a soldiers life I think if I were out of the service now the inducements would have to great to get me to enter the service again There are numerous peace rumors afloat around about camp O what a pleasure it would be to me to have peace once more that I might be at home once more free to go and and come whenever and wherever I chose to go without getting permission first of shoulder straps if I could go and how long I could stay Joseph Steele escaped from being blown to pieces at the explosion of the steamboat on which he took passage there were only about 15 men of the 8^th Ind battery sat saved from death poor fellows after having served over three years in the army and going home to Indianapolis to be mustered out of the service just only think 50 men of that battery our prospect for supper is cold boiled beef but it is corned beef and quite good I expect you will get tired before you get this letter read Just think of a short cake shortened with tallow and baked in a frying pan wont they be gay just think if we should happed to get the shirtning in cross ways Hip Hip Hurrah another box of Hard tack glorious Hard tack Oh yes John send me a few

 

Feb 4^th and again do I have to resort to the pen to keep me a wake I am keeping watch over the small hours of morn without any companion but my pen to keep me from sleeping and letting the small hours slip a past to quick for the good and comfort for those that are most concerned It is snowing out side but I have good comfortable fire with fire place

 

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