Dear Father

I received yours of the 15 this morning and was glad to hear that you were all well I for my part cannot brag of good health that is I am not sick but do not feel very well Metts is sick I do not know what is the mater with him he is in the hospital he is not very dangerous as I know of As for our arms they are not getting much better some are though and I think the rest of them will get along after a while if properly tended we vaccinated from a boy that had just come from the hospital it looked like good stuff but I suppose it was not

We are under marching orders last night the order came about 9 oclock for us to be ready to march by 7 oclock and then the othe orders came not to march untill further orders which we are very glad of for it has rained all of the forenoon pretty hard but has stoped I do not think we shall go on any further but back if any thing I suppose those mounted troops that left here are going to cut the Richmond & Nashville R R we shall hear from them after they come back It would not be anything strange if we did not leave hear for a week orso and we may before tomorrow morning I hope not for I am in no condition to march on account of my arm

There is a good many complaining around in camp it is quite probible that it is the warm weather that effects the most of the boys There is the least men able to drill in the company that there has been mostly on account of our arms I suppose that there is considerable excitement up there in the northern states about the rumored invasion of Penn but I think it is more to raise troops than any thing else the way they fooled us there may be some Gurrillies in Penn but nothing more I do not think that there is anything of there invasion of the northern states they would like to

no doubt but they have not got forces enough to scatter them in that way I have been in the Service long enough to know that such invasions are not profitable to small parties because they can not carry it on on a large scail before they will meet with some obstructions I must close by saying good by give my love to all enquireing friends and reserve a share for yourself

H E Randall