Dear Ellen after my respects to you & family I would inform
you that I am well & do truly hope those lines will find you in
the Same State of health.  Lieut J. C. McCormick is going to
start home to morrow morning & I thought I would rite a few
lines to Send by him I was in hopes that we would get paid
off Before he would go home But it appears that we will not
get one cent until the first of january if we get our money then
we will have a pretty good pile & I guess there will be some way
to Send it home I do not know what would be the
Best for us to do with it when we do get it But we will
try & take care of it & purchase land with it I think if
nothing happens By the time this war is over I can pay for
a pretty good farm have you any farm in view that will suit
you will we go to Scott or Stay in clark how would you
like old Tom Jonses farm would you live there no.
tell Kate McCormick that John is well George Peters is well
Amos Henthorn is not very Stout But he is present for
duty Tom is still at Danville Sick John Carny will Be Second
Lieutenant I guess Schwalier 1st we have only 9 overcoats to the
company I have none at all well you all think I guess that our
company is the smallest in the Regiment it is not Co C Capt
Wheelers Company has less men than I Company E Capt Moors is ("Moors" or Mooris?)
less than I Company D. Capt Finly is as small as I thare is
but about 6 harty men in this company I will name them
Sergt McCormick John Carny W Taflinger W Plasket G Peters
Wm Barrett & Myself thare are others that are fit for duty
But not verry stout Thos Cole is tollerable harty
you will Let Lieut Schwaliers Wife have 5 Bushels of  Wheat
when She Sends for it. Schwaliers will settle for it with me
if you have not Sold the wheat let her have it But if you
have Sold do not rob your self. you can send me a box By
express any time Soon unless I notify you that you must not
send it you will have to Pack it careful nail tight and direct proper
Send me about 5 lbs Butter if you have to By it
if you have killed the hogs & made sauceage send some of that
raped carefully.

Since I rote the above lines I have marched 5
miles out & Back the news came that our forage train
was atacked By rebel cavalry my boys was all out on
picket and as I have been on duty for Twoo days & nites
they let me rest to day But when we had a prospect of
a fight I Buckeld my Pistol and Sword of I went
with the regt But the rebels had left in a hurry & we had
to march Back well thare is some talk of us moveny on
murfresburroy the rebs are about fifty thousand strong there
but they cannot make any show at all Ellen I have rote
So often I have nothing to rite I will rite a few lines to milly
& Tomy matty

Well milly how do you like your Teacher can you rite me
a letter what does Tomy do at school does he learn
his Book has he got whiped any yet does he keep up with
you going to School & coming can you cipher do you
Bak any Biskets for maw do you Ever think of Papa wornt
you rite in maws Letters to me well milly I must say
good by

Well Tomy I rite you a few words
Be a good Boy learn fast so you can
rite to me help milly pack wood and watter
dont fall in the spring love little Edy &
little Black hawk kiss him for Pappa
good By Tomy

Mattie I love you Be a good girl
learn your letters love little Eddy
Kiss maw for me & dont forget Paw
good By mattie

W D Everitt Com I 81st
Regt Ind Vols