Jacksburough, Tenn.
Nov. 11, 1861


Dear Mrs. Manurva Aston:

I once more take the pleasure to inform you that I am well and bob,
also. In short, all the neighbor boys are in first rate health. I never had
had any better health in my life than I have had since I left home.

The last time I received a letter from H. C. Aston, was day before
yesterday, which bore the date of the 27th of last month.  I was
exceedingly glad when I saw the sentence in it that stated that you were
all well.

We are 40 miles west of the Cumberland Gap, at a little town called
Jacksburough. It is the county seat of Cambron County. At what is called
the Huntsville Gap we went 3-1/2 miles further west to Wheeler Gap, and
yesterday we moved back up to this point. We are in about 8 miles of the
Kentucky line. We had started down to Jamestown where there was a battle
expected last week but we had orders to stop here.  We are about half way
between Big Creek Gap and Wheeler Gap. We are now only 38 miles from
Knoxville. I don't know, but I am under the impression that we will take up
winter quarters here, tho' I don't know yet whether we will or not. The
talk is now that the remainder of our Regiment will come here to us, the
last of this week or the first of the next.

Manurva, I have thought for the last two weeks that we would stand
a good chance to get into a fight, but now I don't think there is any
chance to get a fight this winter.

We have a pretty location here for our camps. I would be glad that
we would take up here for the winter.

I am unable to say, yet, when any of the boys will be home. There
will not be any furloughing done until we take up winter quarters. Tho'
after that there will be abut one fourth of the company furloed at a time,
until we all get to go home that want to go. I don't think I will come,
myself until about the first of January, if I and you all keep well.

When you write to us direct your letter to Knoxville as you did
when we stayed there. Only, make the change from the 15th regiment to the
16th.

I have no more news that will interest you at all.

I think that we will go to throwing up breast works here about
tomorrow. We got here last night. We were the first Regiment here, but
there have been two more Regiments come in here today, already. I don't
know how many more are coming here.

Hugh, you write to me something abut B. F. Berryhill's cotton. I
have nothing more against him, only that note, th' I was to have a lien on
his cotton to settle the debt with W. W. Webster.  I want you to go see Ben
and tell him if don't stand up to me this time when I am not there, I will
lose all confidence in him. Tell him if he doesn't let me have the cotton
after promising it to me I will think hard of him about it.

Hugh, I want you to send me the amount of all the boys accounts
that are here with me and at Knoxville, too.  A good many of them want to
pay off here. I thin I can got one or two hundred dollars here if I had the
amount of their accounts. You need not draw off their accounts. Just send
the amount and if there is any mistake it can be rectified here. After I
get the money I will send it home by the first chance. Manurva, I want to
send you some money to get your necessities with, by the first chance. Bob
and I drew sixty dollars awhile back and there is about a hundred more due
us now. We will get it in a few days. We want to send it home as we get it,
for we don't want to keep any more here with us than we will be obliged to
spend.

Manurva, I want you to get some person to make me 10 yds. of fine
grey jeans, as fine as it can be made. It does not matter abut the price. I
want it for a uniform. I want you to have it made as soon as you can. I may
send for it before I come home and if I do, have it ready.

I have written to you once a week every since I left home.

Tell F. A. Aston I have not heard from him since I left home. I
would like to hear from him.

Goodbye,

A. M. Aston