Harpers Ferry V^a Jan 23^rd/64

 

Dear Aunt Melissa

                                    Yours of the 15^th inst was gladly received in last nights mail and need I assure you it was a source of much pleasure to me I was very glad also to hear from Grandfather and to learn that you were all in good health and enjoying yourselves with him. I believe I wrote you soon after our arrival here and told you why we were here Since I wrote the enemy have moved / down in front of us some eleven thousand strong and are composed of Cavalry and mounted Infantry with some Artillery Our Artillery was playing upon them (to use a military phrase) all day yesterday but I think it did not amount to much We have been having some very cold weather here accompanied with a little snow and although we have had to undergo some pretty hard fatigues since we left our Corps still I never enjoyed better heath in my life for which I feel to thank our Heavenly Father very much 

 

I feel very grateful to you and Uncle for your kindness in offering to give me the charge of the farm this coming summer and yet I hardly know how to answer you for I do want to study as much as I can after my term of service expires which will be on the 30^th of June However I can study through the winter and should be very much pleased to do the best I can for you on the farm untill that time. Aunt Melissa this is the holy Sabbath and how I wish I were with you away from these scenes of profanity / vulgarity and bloodshed "Our Heavenly Father give me grace and strength to resist temptation and do my whole duty in a right manner is my daily prayer" but oh it is hard to do this and resist evils I have not reenlisted yet neither shall I. The men of our Regt that have go home on Furloughs tonight I believe therefore it is now too late Regarding my Grandfather in England I will say he has offered to give me a good home (to use his own words) and to give me a good education if I would come to him but his offers were given in rather a brief manner and I have been waiting for another letter before deciding what I should do

 

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Please write me again when convenient give my love to Uncle and all other friends and Accept this from                 Your Nephew

                                                            Covell

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