Dear wife, we are still in camp at Walnut Hollow. The Yankees have played the wild with western Virginia; they have destroyed all our commissary stores along the railroad from Bristol to Max Medows. They burned several thousand lbs. of pork and beef. They burned the Salt works and broke up all the kettles and pump logs. In fact, they accomplished every they aimed to. They only brought seven days rations with them. They are gone back to Tennessee again, but they will be back, I think in a month or six weaks, and then they will raid this country to the Blew Ridge.

It is reported that General Brackenridge was drunk and asleep, and if he had slept fifteen minutes longer, the Yankees would have got him. They also got three thousand dollars in gold and silver and burned six thousand dollars in Confederate. I think we will get to go back to Carroll in ten or twelve days if we are not ordered off or to meet the enemy. Our boys are all out of hart; they say if they are carried in to a fight with a few men against a great big force that they will take care of them selves.

Mary, I would like to be at home this evening. I would like to eat some buiscuit and coffee; I have not tasted coffee since I left the neighborhood. Since we been here I have bought about half of my the rations that I have eaten. I have written two letters before this; if you can send a letter write soon. I would be glad for you to write but I may be gone before it could get here. I will close. Yours

P. S. I am well and tolerably well satisfied.