Your letter was received a few days ago. I had previously heard of the distress in your family caused by the death of Whitfield. It does seem that no family in our county has escaped both the war and pestilence. All are doomed to part with those near and dear to them. We offer you our heartfelt sympathy in your sad bereavement. I know your cup of sorrow is full, but Oh! How much more distressing, if you had been confined away from home in the army. While the afflicting hand of God is upon you, you have great cause to be thankful that you was permitted to be with your dear children in their last hours on earth. I do hope as the cold season approaches that sickness will subside. There is more sickness in our regt. now then I have seen since the first year of the war, but no cases have proved fatal yet, though we have some very sick men. It is something like Catarrhal Fever.

All remains quiet here still, hope it will continue so a good while. Our fort is very good. What news have you in Carroll in regard to the late call for troops? Are they taking all under the age of 45 years? Do those who were exempted last spring have to be reexamined? Will you get off again by continuing at your blacksmithing? I will write a few lines to James N. Lindsey and send in your letter, please send it to him soon. We are well. Write often, it is sometimes nearly a month that we don’t hear from home at all.