Camp Jefferson Ky

January the 30^th/62

 

          Dear brother I received your welcome letter yesterday and was glad to hear from you. This leaves me well, hoping this may find you all the same. It afforded me great pleasure to hear that Mother was so comfortably situated in her new house and still enjoying the pleasures of a family circle I conceive she feels at home once more, although one is missed from the fireside. which I hope you will fill that vacuum. you will never regret that position. I have been in all kinds of places and company and I have never been as well satisfied as when I was sitting by the fireside of my own, or that I was never felt safer only when I was under the tender care of a dutiful mother / I know that it goes a little hard for you to settle down in a country that is so destitute of girls as it is out there but you will please your distant brothers and no doubt your company will be quite agreeable in with Jess & Mother. I shall not prentend to say that soldiering will not agree with you, but one thing I know if you aint as hard as adamant and got an appetite like a saw mill you will go up salt river before many weeks in the service. ther is two died in our Company one by the names of Solomon Simons of Noble County and and W. D. King of Columbia City. the first named died with the Small Pox the other with the Tiphoid fever We have not more than one hundred men fit for duty now. Although by good care and exercise I still retain my health, and weigh more than I ever did before /

 

As a general thing young men when they go to a new part of the country like to write back to their friends what kind of girls he sees and gets acquainted with, and now I will say something about those of Kentucky. this country is full of great big, and stout women with red rosey eyes and cold black cheeks. I have my opinion of slavery yet and am glad that I am engaged with all my heart in the service of our country in the behalf of guarding homes of against the wickedness of this ungodly and sinfull servitude the weather has been very disagreeable for the last few weeks and makes it very bad soldiering there is nothing partickular going on now about war matters but we all have our opinion about it, but I dont deem it prudent to express any ideas. one thing I shall say there is going to be / a blow struck before long and a very heavy one too. I think that the government is taking a wise step and I am confident they will succeed in their undertakings. likely you are aware of the fact that the southern twelve months men’s time will be up in Febuary and it will be a matter of impossibility to get them to stay in the service any longer on the account there is so many that enlisted for that term.

 

I have nothing more at present but you must write soon and let me hear from you kiss some of the girls for me and send me word Tell mother I will write to her before long

 

                                                            Yours truly      Ever

                                                                                    N. K.

                        D         Direct your letter to

                                    N. Keen           Box no 1139

                                                            Louisville Ky

                                                in care of Capt Simonson

                                                            light Artillery

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