Stevenson Ala
January the 25 /64
Dear Charlotte
I once more seit myself to answer your kind and welcome letter of the 10th which I received this morning. I was verry glad to hear from you and that you were all well. I am well. My health was never better than it is now. I found a likeness in my letter which pleased me verry much. It is a splendid picture but the glass was broken in ten peices. I was verry sorry but I have taken the glass out of the old one and put it in the case so I have got a nice picture after all. You look a good deal better than you did when you had the other one taken. John D has grown a good deal. He is a smart looking child. Little Matie looks as cunning as ever. She is quite a girl. How I would like to see all of you. I am verry anxious to have the war close so I can come home again and live in peace once more. I hope it wont be long when the time will come for us to fall in to go home. I wouldent take a good deal for my likeness. It is a great comfort to me. I would have mine taken again if I could but there is no chance. To day is Monday. It is wash day but I put off washing untill tomorrow. I wanted to answer your letter and I have got to draw five days rations this afternoone. The weather is verry pleasent here and has ben for several days. We have a little frost every knight and days it is warme and smoky. The ground is dry and some places a little dusty. There is some dezerters comes in here most every day. There is a collord regt here now. They are going up front. They look well. They have every appeirance of being good soldiers. They ceep their clothes clean and brases bright straps black and a clean gun. I think they make good soldiers in battle. I am glad to see them enlist and fight. You stated in your letter that Bloomer wants to take the place back. I dont know where you would stay next sumer. You will ceep a cow and if you let that go you will have to hire pasture but you must do as you think best but make him throw in this years rent if he takes it. You wont lose eneything if you ceep it. Be careful that he dont get advantage some way and make troubel. I think he is an old raskel. If you ceep it you will have cow pasture and a place to live if you chose to but I suppose you know before this time wether he takes it or not. I will take another sheet.
I am verry anxous to hear from the check and money. I hope you have got it before this time. The boys all think I have got a nice picture and I think so to. I am proud of my famely. The brigade doctor was in my shanty this morning. He thought I had a smart little famely. I am not ashamed to have eney one look at it. The butter and buries tasted good but the picture is better. I sent some things by Capt Sage to Binghamton. They was Jims things. Let me know if Henery gets them or not. I wrote to you about them in one of my other letters. Thomas Sumerton came to the Co the other day. He was wounded at the battle of Wauhatchie. He was shot through the neck. He has ben home. He lives at the Great Bend. Old Capt Ship has rezined and gone home. We miss him some. He was alwais pufing and blowing about. I must bring my letter to a close. I wrote one the other day. I get verry lonesome these pleasent days. How I wish I could visit with you part of the time but all we can do is to write and let us improve that privilage. Write as often as you can and I will do the same. Good buy dear Charlotte.
Chas Engle
I send my love to you. Kiss the children for me. My love to all friends.