Head Quarters

Armey the Frontier

Forsyth. Mo. Feb 4^th/63

 

Dear Brother                                                                        

            It being a very stormy day and I having nothing else to do so I thought I would set down and write you a few lines to let you that I am well and enjoying good health. I have not heard anything from you since a week or so before I left the Hospital. I have rced but one letter since I joined the regiment. that was from sumner. I wrote one to father a week ago last sunday.

 

We are having a regular [paper fold] snow storm here to day It commenced snowing this morning a bout five Oclock and been snowing all day I had a regular wild Goose chase cathing up with the regiment. I travled about / three weeks out in weather sleeping out in the rain and snow with out tents and onley one blanket. I tell you what that soldiering is not what it is cracked up to be. altho you would think it was nice work by the looks of the boys. they are all as fat as ever they was and looking as hearty as a buck. I am as fat as ever I was. I think that If I have my health I will stand it pretty well. On my way to the regiment I was lucky. I meet a man by the name of Culmer who going home on a recruiting commission. He had six letters for me. There was two from father one had $4.75 in and one had 70^cts and some P.O. stamps in two from Bert. One from Jake the sent me whe I laid in Rolla, and one from you with one dollar in U.S. Silver in. I considered myself very luckey in getting them /

 

            Arch is a fat as any of them. Now Joseph P. Randle is a bout as thick through as he is tall. Rice & Scott does not fall be hind any in flesh. I wish that you would send me some papers once in the while Direct them to Co G 20 Regt. W. V. Springfield, Mo. I received a letter from W^m H. Maxfield last night. I think that by the way he writes that he is  slitualy kind of sick a soldiering. He thinks that if he was in a hospital and got a chance to get detailed on extra duty that he would pitch in any thing but carrying a musket for him. He says that his Brigade Provo Marshels head clerk now. He says that there is not one out of their company that was left in the hospital and got well that ever came back to the company they have all got detailed on extra duty /

 

I have been out shoveling snow this morning. the snow fell to a considerable yesterday. this morning the snow was about eight inches deep considerable of a snow storm for this state Jim Piercy has gone to driving his Old team again we are laying here in camp 425 miles up the White River. I see by papers that our gun boats has been up the River three hundred mile and taken three fortified places. a good many think that the next move we make we will go down the white river.

 

But the d—l only knows where we will go to and he wont tell, but when we move again I will write again.

 

Direct rite through to springfield Mo Via St Louis, the boys all send their best respects to you This is all I have to say this time   Answer soon

 

                                                                        From Your Brother

                                                                        S. Strong

give my love to all enquiring

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