Yours of the ninth found me enjoying good health. I received it Monday evening, the 20th. I was very, very glad to hear from you again and that you were enjoying good health as well as yourself. If I mistake not, I mailed my last letter to you from Camp Prescott Smith, Arlington, Va.

We left that place two weeks ago last Saturday. We crossed the Potomac River and marched four miles to Poolsville in the state of Maryland. We were marched that distance in one and 1/2 days and carried with us our knapsacks and equipage which would weigh 60 lbs. We were sent to cut off the retreat of some Rebel cavalry that had crossed into Md. but were too late to be of any service. We were within hearing of the cannon at the battle of Charleston, Va. that took place a few days ago. We have not been into any ourselves yet but do not know how soon our turn may come.

Will Rogers and Charley Graves have been taken to the hospital. They are at Washington, I believe. They are no better. James Pardoe was left back at Camp Prescott. He was getting much better when we left; have not heard of him since, but expect that he will join the Regt. in a few days. I have enjoyed myself very well since I came into the army. I feel just as though I had done my duty, conscious of this and having been blessed with the best of health for which I feel myself both thankful and fortunate.

Do you study my wishes? Or how came you to fulfill them by sending that lock of hair? I came near making the request when I wrote but feared to, lest you might think me foolish. I had such a nice visit with you in dreamland not long since -- it seemed so much like a reality, I thought at last I gave you my hand to say good bye and leave to join my companions in arms again; then I thought you entreated me to stay and not leave you again; I thought that I consented this time but morning came and I awoke to realities. It was a dream!

Thursday morning! I have been now just two mo. in the service since I left home. Two only of the 36 gone. Time passes faster than I had any idea it would, with me soldiering.

Cousin Charles Snell was to see us three weeks ago Sunday. He came to Washington for Wallon who was wounded at the battle of Sharpsburg. We had a very pleasant time visiting with him. We went over to "Arlington House." Don't you recollect looking at the picture of it in that geography -- one of those we marked, I think? It looks just like that picture, with eight large pillars in front. It has been a splendid mansion once. It used to be the residence of some of the Washington family, the Custisses, his wife's folks. I saw where they were buried just back of the mansion in a grove of oaks, but their graves were erected large marble monuments with their names engraved plainly: George Washington Parke Custis, and Mary L. Custis, his wife, with the date, etc. and a verse of scripture commencing "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord."

What do you think, Vile? I have found another of my friends last night -- one I went to school with at Towanda by the name of James Coburn. He is in our Regt. and next Co. but one by us. I have seen him dozens of times but did not know him. He is a first rate fellow and I am so glad to find him.

We begin to think that we will stay near where we are this winter but cannot tell for sure as we can believe but very little of what we hear in camp. A few days ago we heard that our Brigade was to go to Texas. For a while we thought it might be so. It just seems as though I was far enough away now.

You wished to know who that lady was that felt so disappointed. It was Amelia. Did you think such a thought of her? I did not till just before I left. When you see Sallie she can tell you about it for it was her that told me the most about it. She made me promise to write to her but I have not yet. If I do, I will let you know.

I have written to quite a number of my female friends, but I can write none but friendship letters now, excepting to you. I do not wish to, for they have no place in my affections now. You ask, does distance make any difference in my feelings towards you? You said it does not to yourself, well it does to me for the farther I go away and the longer the absence, the more I love to think of thee. I burn my letters when I get them ans. But somehow I don't yours and whenever anything goes wrong and I get despondent it is your likeness I take out to look at, and that countenance, so full of hope and cheerfulness, that I catch it immediately and look forward to the future "when the wars are all over and we shall come back to the land whence we started," and then the thought of a girl and pleasant home somewhere with the one I love, and I am as cheerful again as ever. But I must close.

Perhaps next time I will give you a description of the house I now live in and who lives with me, etc. and who cooks and how, etc.

Let me know, when you write again, how soon your school closes, so I may know where to direct my next letter. Please excuse the soiled appearance of this letter as I write without either desk or table. May heaven's choicest blessing be ever meted out to thee is the wish, the prayer, of your true friend, Joel.

The 2nd Lieutenant of our company died of typhoid fever two weeks ago Sunday -- John Diefenbach, of Dushore. Please write soon. Write soon to Joel.