Howtz. Battery, Md. Heights, Nov. 21, 1863.
Dear Family:
I am in receipt of yours. Glad to hear of your continued good health. It has been raining all day, so the boys for enjoyment all flock to our barrack, where they have dancing and music &c. and by great exertion have passed so much of the day off. I improve this opportunity to answer my weekly epistle. You seem to feel a great deal of anxiety about our, or I might say, my re-enlisting. Now, you don’t want that little (now ordinary sized) fellow at home, that used to, in days gone by, do all the mischief and generally get all the blame for it! That is all I will say, but wait and see what kind of an answer I get. But to relieve your minds on this important point, I will say, so far, not a man of Co. B has re-enlisted, and the reason is, no one has been here to re-enlist them. And as for the future, you need not worry at all about either of us. In one sense of the word, every man ought to re-enlist; the country is in great need of men. A man that has any patriotism in him ought to do it and money shall be no object. But as for me, I feel that I have risked myself through one three years, and I will wait until every able bodied man does the same before trying it again. Sometimes I feel sad to think that I could not visit home this coming Thanksgiving, and then again I think there was no need (sickness) of going and I am glad I did not go. The fact is we are enjoying ourselves now very well and time passes so rapidly, it seems as if it were but a little while longer to stop. I shall endeavor to enjoy myself here but hope you will there. We have signed the pay rolls and have been expecting, for two days past. I shall have to close here, so as to get things ready for the pay-master to pay more rapidly, as it is raining outside.
Monday, 23rd. We were paid off Sat.; all went off smoothly. The furloughed men started for home at 2 o’clk. this morning, just the right time! I think they ought to enjoy themselves and probably will. The box if it has not been sent need not come till Christmas. They cost too much to send often. George says he expects his father (uncle Frank) out here this week; will wait and send my money by him, which will save a little. Lev.
