Camp near Winchester VaNov 18th 1864My own darling wife

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Yours of the 10th came this morning. I also recd. one the other mail, that got lost and went to another Regiment and in the evening a soldier came and brought it to me. Col Emmerson comdg Brigade has got leave of absence for twenty days and leaves to night for home, and that gives me the command of the Brigade while he is gone. We are now having a heavy rain storm and from all I can learn we are soon to settle down and call it we are in winter quarters

I shall make up my mind during the next twenty days in regard to the best time to resign and will let you know all about it, however I think it is not going to be a good place for you to come this winter for the road is so liable to be torn up by “Guerillas” and trains captured that travel will be very uncertain and I think very few women will visit camp this winter. Still I will let you know all about it for you darling wife if I remain here this winter I would not think of getting along

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without having you with me as much of the time as I possibly could. There is some talk that Col Emmerson will never come back, then if Col Truax who is now under arrest should get dismissed the Brigade would belong to me and it might pay me to stay my time out if I could command it the balance of the term- but all depends upon circumstances – the probability is I shall not stay. There is no Army news – all quiet - see Col Wells most every day – feeling first rate – my health not much improved yet.

As everWilliam