Beach Camp, Kentucky
Jan. 3, 1862


Dear Brother [Hugh Aston]:

I take this method of informing you that I am well, and Robert
[Morton], also. There is some sickness in our camp. Lou Humphries is yet
sick. I am not staying with him tonight. He is no better. Bart Harris is
getting well and David Wheeler is getting better of his sickness. Mr.
Adkins I guess told you that all of the boys were sick. Our company
reported 18 on the sick list this morning, tho' none of them are dangerous.
There is Newt, Jack and Robert Berryhill somewhat puny and Parker Spann.
That's all that are sick in our neighborhood or that was all when I left
camp. I felt a little bad this morning and J. N. Watson and I went out to
where W. S. Humphries was and they had some brandy out there, so I took a
few drinks of that and I think it helped me right smartly. I have not gone
back to camp tonight for it is raining.

I will give you some of the news of the day. Yesterday morning we
were ordered to cook up 3 days rations to start out to Jamestown to run the
Yankees off from there, but we have not gone yet, nor I don't know whether
we will go or not. If they do go, I am going with them.

We are doing very well here now. The most of the boys have got
their houses up and moved into them. Bob [R. A. Morton] and I have moved in
to our house. Wm. Johnson and James Reed have gone into our mess and
Johnsons' negro is cooking and doing for me.

Manurva, I can't say exactly when Bob or me will come home, but one
or the other of us will come the first furloughing that is done. We have
not heard any more about furloughing since Mr. Adkins left here, in our
Regiment. But the Tennessee Regiments have been furloughing all this week.
I think our Regiment will go to furloughing in a few days, if we stay here.
But, I don't believe we will stay here all the winter for I think we'll go
further down the river toward Nashville.

I don't know whether you can read this or not for I have no pen
that will write scarcely at all.

I will stop for tonight and give you the news in the morning.

Jan. 4th: I have gotten back to camp this morning and found
everthing right. It is still raining.

Tell David Lee's family that he is well and tell Moses Harris that
I would like to get a letter from him.

I want you to write to me who all let you have cotton in the way of
debts. If you have not gotten Thad Webb's cotton tell Silas to fetch it
from him here at 2 1/2 cents per pound and give him credit for the cotton
when it is delivered. Jack Berryhill has paid mehis account.

I want you to write often for I like to hear from home often. I
shan't ask F. A. Harton [probably Franklin A. Morton] to write to me
anymore.

Farewell for this time.

A. M. Aston