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William Alexander is now in Franklin, Southampton Co, where the regiment, now under the command of General Roger Pryor, had arrived on 13 January. While one would guess it from his tone, the regiment had suffered badly in the artillery exchange at the Battle of Kelly’s Store in Suffolk five days before, Colonel Poage being among those killed. Smith reports the return under guard of five Carroll County soldiers who had gone missing and returns to the subject of exempting Stephen from military service. Two men from his company are missing from the late battle and presumed captured.

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I a few days ago received your letter of Jan. 23rd. You request an answer soon, and this being a cold snowy day, I will write. The snow commenced falling last night, is now three or four inches deep and still falling accompanied with strong wind. Indeed it is a very rough day, but we have quite comfortable quarters and plenty to eat. The climate here is much warmer than in Western Virginia, have had but one snow before this that covered the ground, and it went off the same day that it fell.

Ephraim Dickens arrived here yesterday evening in charge of the following absentees from our Co. viz: Jackson Peak, Gabriel Simpkins, Calvin Quesenberry, Elisha Bond come to Franklin and Oliver Marshall come to come to camp last Saturday evening. Dickens also brought three recruits to the company; he will start back to Carroll in a day or two.

You say they are calling for more men in our county, and that you will be required to go before the board of examination. I think you can get off by being a regular blacksmith, but you must be sure to get a certificate to that effect from a Magistrate to present to the board. Also, you had better get the Magistrate to certify that there is no other workman of that kind for that part of the county. I want you to write soon as the board meets and let us know how you come out. You If you should have to go to the army (which I hope you will not have to do), you must be sure to let us know where you go and all about it.

I think we will be sent back to W. Virginia in the Spring, though we may not. Our Co. now numbers 80 men present besides officers. Gen. Pryor says our loss in the fight of Jan. 30th is less than 50 men. The enemy is thought to have suffered heavily—at least some who were captured say they did.

John Sutphin and James Owen of our Co. are still missing; we think they are captured. There are 19 men killed, wounded, and missing from our regt. I will have to close. Get a discharge from service if you can, both you and Doc. If you would prefer it I think you could get in our Co. if you should have to go. We are well. Write very soon.

You must excuse my envelope. I am out and can not get them here.

Don’t let anybody out of the family see this letter.

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