"As to our military exercises, drill, etc., we have enough to
occupy our time well. I see the advantage of enlisting in a
veteran regiment. I find myself improving very rapidly. Besides
my public company drill, I am getting my young comrade, Frank
Grover, who has been in the service six months, to give me some
private lessons. With the help of these, I hope to pass muster
creditably before my first month is out.

"And now, my dear Mary, I must draw my letter to a close. In the
army we are obliged to write under difficulties. I am writing
this on my knapsack for a desk, and that is not quite so easy as
a table. The constrained position in which I am forced to sit has
tired me, and I think I will go out and 'limber' myself a little.
Frank, who has just finished a letter to his mother, will no
doubt join me. Two of my comrades are sitting close by, playing
euchre. When I joined them I found they were in the habit of
playing for small stakes, but I have succeeded in inducing them
to give up a practice which might not unlikely lead to bad
results.

"In closing, I need not tell you how much and how often I think
of you all. I have never before been separated from you, and
there are times when my longing to be with you again is very
strong. You must make up for your absence by frequent and long
letters. Tell me all that is going on. Even trifles will serve to
amuse us here.

"Tell Frank to send me Harper's Weekly regularly. Two or three
times a week I should like to have a daily paper forwarded. Every
newspaper that finds its way into camp goes the rounds, and its