Dear Ellen I recd your letter to day
& was glad to hear from you & that you was
well I am very well at this time altho
thare is a great deal of sickness in camp But
it is measels & mumps and I have had
Both Before I came in the service I was out
yesterday foraging our regt went out as gards
with about 50 waggons we drove into a Rebels
cornfield & loadded up with corn oats hay and Every
thing we could get we did not leave a mouth
full for them to Eat we Show them but little
mercy I must rite a short letter sh???   (last word uncertain)
Lieut Schwaler is commanding a pioneer
corps & will not be with us any more this
winter Lieut McCormick has Resigned
on account of his health he is very ???  (Last word unreadable)
our Collonel is at home sick & our Luet
colonel left to day verry sick about
half of the officers in this Regt have resigned
and still more are going to But I will
stick it out as long as the boys wants me
you may sell the hogs as soon as you please
if the corn is out at denies place it will not do to
fatting them to Long as the corn will likely Be worth more
than the hogs But let them be fat Before you sell you
had better sell the cattle rite off if you have no place to
turn them in if thare is any field open that they could
Be turned in on that they would not hurt the wheat
that would be a good idea to let them run for 1 or 2 weeks
W Bybee can be the judge as to that if it is rite dry it
would not hurt the wheat if you sell them drive
them to Louisville & take the Best price you can get But
have them Sold By wate you spoke of selling corn to Rick
please let me know whether you have done so or not  if so how
much  tell me what you have done with the corn that you
have gathered also what fields tell whither Wes Colins  ("Wes" uncertain)
has sold his hogs if so what he got for them has J Colins
came back or has his wife gone to Illinois have herd
from the old man.  I hear old miss Collins is dead how does
Milly get along at school do they learn fast does Tomy
learn can Milly rite any yet. does Mattie know her
letters have you got plenty of wood & plenty to Eat that
is good
Ellen please answer my questions altho simple
they may appear I have wrote to Brother Thos also to Father
But have not got the first scratch of a pen from them
yet I asked them to rite to me I also asked Lew to rite
to me But not a word from one of them so if they wont rite
to me they can just go to hell for me I will come through
this world all rite yet. altho I would like to hear from them
well we have not Been paid off yet & I have not 1 cent
to my name I do not know what I am to do without
some money I have to By Every mouth full I Eat the
officers can not draw rations like the privates do when we
go out I have to pay 50 cts pr meal or do with out & I cant
do the latter we have made arrangements to dray from
the Brigade headquarters then we will live cheaper I will not
have it said that I Eat privates rations Stephen Cole is not
here nor has not Been heard of By me since I was at home
George Lewellen is sick in hospital in nashville he had
the fevers he is better I Believe purhaps you would like
to know who is orderly Know John McCormick is
acting at this time Thos Cole would Be if he was stout
he is getting A heap Better I hant got much to write
it is just know Raining as hard as I Ever did see it
Rain and it is thundering & litening very hard.
Can you tell me how old Dads folks are getting a long
purhaps you would like to know how many
we draw rations for we draw for 35 men & myself
makes 36 in all I have the Same tent
that I had in Louisville and It does not leak
one drop the I must close rite often for I like
to hear from home you must send the childrens
pictures if you have got them I look at you & Eddy
Ever day he looks so sweet I wish I could kiss the little fellow
Tell Tom Milly & Matty that they must Be good
children & when I come home I will Bring them
Lots of Pretty things give them all a kiss for me & tell
them not to forget me give my love to all my friends
& Except A portion yourself
I must Bid you Farewell
W D Evritt Com I 81st
Regt Ind Vols
To M. E. Evritt
Tell Bybee & Uncle I am    ("Uncle" uncertain)
obliged to them for their letters
do not forget to rite
a long letter