Helena Philips Co. Ark January 13/64[sic] My Dearest Elizabeth yours of January the 1st caime to hand yesterday evening accompanyed by one of Dec 28 also both of them full of stamps there is not much use for them here now as I have not sean a paper in half month only what costs 20 to 25 cts apeace and I do not expect to buy many here now for some time; this leavs me well and harty hoping that this may find you well all the boys are generaly well we have got well fixd again we have built a house 12 by 14 for 8 of us with a good fier place to it and we live now like a set of gentlemen --- tho this place is mity mudy when it is not frozen In regards to our time being out I can tel you all I know Col John M Crebs says that he thinks we will go out the 15th day of next August as that is the time the Regt was Organized and all that we contracted for but I think that we will stay til the 22nd day of September that is as long as they can keep us any way but we count to the 13" of August as that is as long as I contracted for we had some snow the 10 day of this month but it soon melted off night befour last I was on picket out 3 milds from here on the Litle Rock road it was a very cold night I stood from 9 to 11 by my self set on my horse in the road and I declare I like to froze at 11 I was released and then I went to the shanty and slept well til morning yesterday after the thaw it was very mudy while I was on picket there was lots of citizens caime in to the lins the brot in cotton and took out lots of goods such as clothing and provisions I have not herd from posey in a long time infact I have nearly quit geting letters from any other source only from home I do not feal like writing to day I have a bad cold ther was a good many of the boys that is at home reported this morning absent without leave Mabery & Gollehur tel John Clark to not stay over his time for thoes boys that do will be cortmarshaled and from what I can learn it is best to come back Capt Anderson was examined when he came back 7 months from to day my time will be up if you wil put 100 dollars away for hard times I will promis to send you anough to live on without it as we are expecting to draw money in a short time and I am going to send home 100 dollars when we do and anough to help you to live besids afterwards 6 months 16 6 96 dollars I can make that 100 if you will put it away for hard times and then we will draw in two or 3 months and I can send you some more I am yours truly M A Hooker to Elizabeth Helena direct to 87 Ills Helena, Ark Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723