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Stevenson Ala. Feb. 26, 1864 Dear Samuel; I received your most welcome letter a few days ago and now take this opportunity to answer it. I havn't got much news that would be of any intrest to you. We are here guarding the railroad yet. There isn't one here that can tell us how long we will continue doing so. We may have to go to the front in a few days or have to stay here all summer long. Things are very onsartan down this way. Troops are passsing through on their way to the front every day. The veteran regiments that went home to recruit some time ago are coming back real fast. We have been expecting the Rebel General Morgan to pay us a flying visit somewhere along this railroad. Orders came from headquarters to be ready to receive him at any moment. We now have to sleep with our guns every night with our cartridge boxes ready at hand so if he should happen to kinder show up unexpected we can give him the proper welcome with all due honors. We have had very pleasant weather here this winter excepting the first week in Janurary. There hasn't been frost enough in the ground at any time so that the farmers could plow if they wanted to. The winters appear to be more mild then they were in Virginia. It would be fine farming country if the men were not all too lazy to work. They always do their plowing here with one horse and a single bottom plow. They only plow about 2 inches deep. An old nigger holds the plow, and a little nigger rides the horse. When they sow the grain they take a bag on one of the horses back and ride around scattering it right and left. It's no wonder the Southern Confederacy is about starved out. Nearly all the inhabitants around here draw rations every week from the U.S. Commissary at Stevenson. Most of the men who used to live around here are now in the Rebel Army and Uncle Sam is feeding their families. Good natured old fellow isn't he? I get a letter from home every week. They are all well, as are all the rest of the folks in the neighborhood. Father bought three acres of Mrs. Deighton's woodland on the hill at $60.00 per acre. He has got the old hill now so he can plow around it (when the wood is cut off). Father sold old Ned last week for $150.00. He has been offered that for Nell but he thinks she is worth more. She will weigh about 1200 and is about as good a looking nag as there is in the neighborhood. Mr. Warner and his son Hamilton raised about an acre of tobacco on shares with father. There was about 1500 of it. Father thinks he can sell his share for $25.00 per hubdred. Hamilton Warner was drafted last fall and ran away to Canada. I hope you will find the time this winter to pay your friends in New York State a visit. They will all be glad to see you. As for me, I suppose I shall have to wait untill this very cruel war is over. The sooner the better it will suit me. Your friend; Oliver |
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