Otterville Mo

January ^the 5 1862

 

Dear father

                this morning finds me in good health, and I hope those few lines may reatch you in due time and find you all in the best of health. I received your letter a few days since and was truly glad to hear from you I have nothing of importance to write to you. we have some very cold weather here to day it is a snowing and our little Cotton Houses looks / very cold though we stand it very well thare is nothing like getting use to any thing. we have never sufferd any with cold yet. I dont mind the cold weather but wet weather is very hard on us. well I suppose you have some soldiers campt near you and I guess you have learned a little somthing about soldiers you complained about y loosing your chickens that is nothing new to us. dont think hard of them for that for I will get as may back here in Missouri 

 

well you say that you have writen several letters to me and received no answer I have answered every letter that I have received from you yet that little battle that took place the 22^ond had no hand in it. we got in 6 miles from where tha were campt and then sent 400 Cavuldary out to attact them thare was 920 of them tha fired a few rounds and then surrenderd 400 took them prisners and martched them into our camp we got 65 wagons and 500 Hae Head of mules and Horses / and all ther camp equipments and 100 stand of armes sutch as double barrell shotguns.

 

well I must bring my letter to a close

 

            direct all your letters

to St louis

 

Give my best respects

to d all the inquireing

friends

            as ever Your Son

            Joseph S. Taylor

SOURCES