As we have to leave Sunday or the next day I thought I would not have a better oportunity of writing I expect we shall moove on the 6th for the front Our staying here is all kicked in the head for some cause or other I was in hope we could stay here for a short time at least but we can not I suppose it is because we are to good at the front

And for that reason Col Hayes is going to resign and go home He starts monday I think I had not seen him untill to day and he told me he was going If he had stayed he would have had command of the brigade and would have stayed if the brigade had stayed here at this post There is something wrong with him I know by the way he spoke The rebs paroled 8000 of our prisoners and they came in here a few of our Regt that was captured when I was they had been prisoners 18 months Also four officers Lieut Hine of our Co he looked tolerable well

They are in rout for the north before this a happy lot of men they are too I expect we shall get payed off tomorrow all of the brigade but our Regt has been but we are the last always unless we are going into a fight then we are first of course I just got that $10.00 that you sent by Col Hayes this eavening I do not think I shall send any of my money home for we shall not be payed off again untill we are mustered out We only get four months pay now and we are in a place where it takes a good deal of money to buy any thing and if we kneed it it is quite risky to send for it by mail

Almost all of the boys that went home on frenches have got back but I do not know what they will do to them but I guess not much They have not reduced the no commissioned officers for it and that would certainly have been the first thing they would do One fellow come up that deserted us at the Nashville fight and went home he pretends that he was taken prisoner and paroled and has his parole with him and if he has he is all sound and if not it will go rather hard with him for deserting in time of action I must close by requesting you to write soon Good by

From your affectionate son
H E Randall