Dear Sister,

I heard from you a day or so ago so I thought I would answer this kind letter to me through this. Kiss Mary Smith by the way a particular friend of mine. I am glad to hear you are well and getting along fine. Mary did not write me much news concerning what was in your letter but wished me to answer it which I am trying to do. I am well at present but very tired of the service and would give anything to get out of it. It is such a mean battery that one can hardly live. The officers are not worth a cent. I would as soon have a wooden man over me as any of them. I was gunner on a six pound gun and I resigned after day and now I am High Private. But it is not with us non commissioned officers as it is with the commishioned for where they resign they can quit and go home but we cannot, but have to stay until the war is over or until our three years is out which I hope will soon be. But I cannot tell when it will. We have left Corinth and have come east further within 50 or 60 miles of Chattanooga where there are som Rebel troops at present but I should not hide if we went there to clean them out before long.

We are now within three miles of Winchester Tenn. With a very nice camping ground in the woods. We cannot tell wether Richmond is to run or not. I wish you could send me papers. The Greenfield paper especially for there is always a lot of news in it I like almonst as good as a letter itself. Well tell me how are all the folks in the old town and how are times there at present and how are you getting along. And tell me wether Father thinks of coming out west or not. We all expect the war will be pretty much over when Richmond is taken. Although there is some few Gurillas. They will soon be whiped out. If I had knowed as much before I enlisted as I do now I would never come as a Private Soldier. But here I am and cannot help it and here I have to stay unless I get sick and then only go home on a sick leave. I got a letter from Father some time ago and he said Fostina was not married yet and Christopher Clapp was in McClennans Army and Dwight married Viola Cronnen, Dan Cronnen's widow. I think girls are scarce there. To marry such a woman as she is. Why here in the south where we are there 20 girls to every young man and as pretty as I ever saw and the trouble with them is they are secesh and don't like northern men. You need not be surprised to hear of our being married if ever I get out of this. Write me all the news and give my best respects to all the folks and my friends and tell them the west is the place to make money. Write soon. No more at present. Excuse this writing and mistakes from your Brother.

Chas. G. Fox

[On Verso:]

Direct

6th Ind Battery

In Care of Capt Geo. T. Cochran

6th Division Gen Woods Div

To follow the Battery