p.

at fifty dollars a month, each soon.
The hole in the Box was not quite large
enough to let the cheese out, though it was
in plain sight. The two packages of sugar
and one of Dried apple were all right, but
the Dough-nuts went to those who tore
the box open, I suppose, as they came not
to me, in any quantity; just enough for
a taste came safely through. The paper
got wet through the same hole that the other
things disappeared. It was not damaged
enough to amount to much. The Photograph
came safely, and I hope the others will come
soon. If thy and father's can be taken
at all, it is just what I want; if [underline]not[/underline]
then thine, alone. I have received no card
from Ellen yet. James has now been one
week on the road, from home, now and
is most there in [H.?] I hope now. He will see
more of the Country than ever before and
will enjoy it well I guess. Though his
companions are wooly, he will remember
the saying, of "Two heads are, - &c." -
The wooly ones we have here are some-
what differrent, though not more agreable.

[page break]

Charley Newton expects to go home on
furlough, soon, and may call on you,
on his way. He will not come under sev-
eral days yet. Those Stamps came in
time just to save my sending this un-
paid, for I was to write to-day at any
rate. There are enough to last me some
time I think, though not one too many.

Five of us here have sent to Washington
for a Mess-chest, for our Mess, which is
to cost us twenty dollars, and contains
a stove and cooking & eating utensils,
for six persons, and is about the size of
the last Box you sent me, from home.
It costs something to begin housekeep-
ing, even in the army, but I cannot af-
ford to board out much longer, though
my rations do nearly pay my board.

We have received one hundred and
twenty-five fresh mules to-day to take
the plase of those used up this past
winter, so the men are having fine
times in breaking them to Halter,
Harness and Saddle. It has snowed
most all day to-day but does not gain much