I have a few spare moments and I thought I would improve them by writeing you a few lines to let you know that we have not marched since I last wrote you although 4 Co of our Regt have left for someplace I do not know where It is a little strange that our Co did not go for they have always gone if any of them have We are all well in camp I saw P Barnes and wife the other day he looks well although he has got a feaver soar on his leg which bothers him some he is dispatch carryer for some redd tape Gent I do not know who It looks some like rain to night

What the news is I have not an oportunity of knowing for we do not get any papers or but few letters I do not get but half of the letters that you write or if I get all of them you do not write as often as you use to But I suppose you write as often as you use to We have very good times in the Ky river we are camped close to the bank of it and some of the boys are in all of the time it is a very swift stream some of the boys came very near getting drowned George Miller Jacob Collins brother inlaw the cramp caught him it is not very deep only in a few places where we go in he hapened to be in on the oposite side of the river from us is a high wall of limeston

as much as 200 ft high almost perpendicular and it is in layers it look just as though it was layed up by masons What is more beautifull than the works of nature the banks of the river are very steap and rocky on both sides as far as I have been I rode down it 42 miles last spring it is very crooked steam When they get the fortifycations built arround this place it will be a hard place to take for the natural fortifycations are good for there is only one place for them to cross the river and where they come up on this side it is only wide enough for teams to pass and on this side is where they are fortifying and they are getting along well with them they are pressing in all of the nigers they can find

to work on them Well I must close for I we have got to leave we have got marching orders good by write soon

H E Randall