Dear Father & Mother

I received your letter last tuesday while I was in this state we were on the bank of the Ohio in covington We started from Toledo about 10 oclock in the forenoon and got into Dayton about dark and the citizens were out to meet us with provishions for us and it was nice cake & pie hot coffee and after we got through the Ladies came around & shook hands with us As we started from Toledo our train was cut into half of our company was on the head of the hind train & I was on the hind car of the forward train they never let us stop at any of the stations on of the road we stayed at Dayton about an hour and then both trains was hitched together and we got into

Cincinnatti about 1 oclock in the morning and then we marched over into Covington and then we camped in a barn with a brick floor we were very warm and I expected to catch cold but I never rested better I was up all of sunday night & monday untill we turned in there and you better believe I was some what used up I got up in the morning and eat breakfast and the roll was called and turned in and slept about 3 hours and then we formed in to line and marched down to the river and was kept there about 6 hours and then were marched to camp where we are now There is a fort here we are camped on a hill & about 40 rods is the fort it has 5 32 pounders and there is the 17th Ohio batery brass they are nice pieces 7 or 8 they are sighted as fine as any rifle I ever saw rifled

They shoot a shell that weighs 14 lbs I do not know how many there is in camp but I guess there is 50,000 at the least calculation and our regiment is the advance and the 100 has got a very good name Our pickets have had some fighting and the rebels they have wounded 4 or 5 of our men and killed 1 we could see them pretty plane we have taken a good many of the butternuts proberly 25 and some forage the rebels are said to be pretty strong the first night we got into camp on the next morning we were orderd up into line of battle at 3 oclock into the intrenchments and there we have been ever since and and layed on our arms we have had considerable rain for the last two days I stood guard 2 days and nights they are bringing in the prisoner all of the time some of the boys

in the 100th Reg have just brought in an ox and he is fat to they are just dressing him now all of the rations we drawed from the goverment for 2 days was 4 of these common square crackers which goes rather tough they are bringing in some thing all of the time I am going to send home some money as for lending money I have not lent any to anyone but John Durbin & Emmet Losure and I guess I am safe enough I am to have it when the officers are payed off I will have it I have got their obligations it was not because I did not think any thing of you I just as live you would have the money as myself I am sorry that you wrote just as you did for I have a pretty hard time of it myself but I suppose it is as good as I can have I will send you all of the money I have to spare & I keep only about $2,00 I will finish up

Sundy 14th

Ben Crew [i.e., Pvt. Benjamin Crew, Co. H, 100th Ohio Infantry] and I have just wanderd away from the crowd on to a little hill by ourselves in the shade to meditate and write a little it seems as though I would like to be at home to stay awhile for I mis the familys noise I would like to be at home and see the babys but I suppose it cannot be at present I have to work hard to keep the tears from gushing forth but I keep them back most of the time but I shall be with you pretty soon I hope it seems as though in a few months at most Our officers are good Major E. L. Hayes [i.e., Maj. Edwin S. Hayes, 100th Ohio Infantry] came last week I have not spoke with him yet I have got the good will of the company officers for I am always on hand and I have not been put on extra duty yet nor do I entend to

but then I may for all that but it will not be for not trying to obey their orders I have read considerable in that little book that you gave me and I think often of what you sayed when you gave it to me it is a very good place for reflection I it causes him to think of home often I can find plenty of companions but they do not seem to be as they use to to me but I suppose there is no difference I think perhaps if you would write to the Capt that a few words so that maybe it it will help me after a while if you do just let me know when and what for I am going to get a discharge as soon as I can and I think with alittle help I shall get it I will manage it right you may rest assured you have got a good to see to but dont fret about

any more than you can help at present I suppose you are drove so much as you will be after a while but you must take it cool and so will I There is 3 or 4 Regiments of cavilry yesterday & day before I saw a Reg of them go out a Scouting I tell you it looks splendid they is two abrest and we are situated so that we can see quite a distence those five companys have just started out a scouting and our company is the advance but I am not going for I do not feel well enough to go well it is sneeys to them I wish I could be with What Metts [i.e., Pvt. Isaac Metts, Co. H, 100th Ohio Infantry] wanted to know was whether Joel payed that money to you or Mrs Burnie to straiten up that mortgage he does not feel very well to day so he sayes but I guess it is not the rest are all well as far as I

H E Randall

I am going to send $10,00 by express to J. Brigham and you can go there for the order Metts wants you to write in your letters if that is payed my likeness I could not get a chance to have it taken I tryed hard Capt Smith wrote all of the orders and sends al of them to him