Louisville Ky.

Sept the 29, /62

 

Dear Parents & Brothers,

                        I am at presant in tolerable good health, and hope this will find you in good health or getting better, my lungs are so that I cannot stand the whistle. I traded my drum for a watch. the drum was too much trouble in moving or marching. it cost me 12 dollars. I made a good trade. / I would be able to play the drum now, but they would not let me play it, and now I wont do anything but play the fife, if I never get able to play it. you see I've got in by the wool, I am kind of a priveleged character. they cant make me do anything but play the fife, neither cook, chop wood carry water stand guard, drill, or anything else, and now I intend to stick to my fife as long as I am in the army, for they have got my dutch up, and as it happens I read the army regulations once. I seen the Sam Butts, Simon Trego, and several others of the 9^th Ia boys. Simon Trego belongs to the 29^th Ind though. the 9^th is encamped about 5 miles from here, right face. / I did not feel like walking that far, or I should have seen the rest of the boys. billy Brown is fat and hearty, so the boys say that seen him. that battle that we expected here did'nt come and never will. there is only about two hundred thousand soldiers here at presant. we have marching orders, where to I dont know, but I think it will be Cumberland Gap. I dont care where we go if it is to Texas. I'm all right. Aaron Trego said I should tell you he is just now washing dishes about two rods from where I am writing. the boys are all as well as common. Matthew Parritt has got the ague pretty hard. keep that secret, he is better this morning, about face. /

 

we have moved since the last letter to you, we are close to our first camping ground. the Bristol boys in the 88^th Ind are encamped close to us ¼ mile. I received your last letter, day before yesterday. I wrote to J Hummer sometime ago tell him I want him to write soon, or I'll talk to him when I meet him in town next time. tell G Reigel that I want him to catch a good big catfish and eat it for me. give my respects to him and the rest of his family. now Edward if you want any money you may use mine, if you need it I want you to do so. if any of you need it I want you to use it, thats just what I mean.

 

give my respects to all, perhaps we will not leave here till to-morrow. I must close for the presant. so much from your affectionate Son

                                                            Wm O Albright.

 

Write soon, send me

 

some P O stamps, scarce here, right face, arms apart, break ranks, march.

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