Letter from Oscar Allen to his cousin Hetty Brackney

Mar 3th 1863 Benton Kentucky

Dear Cousin

It is with plesure that I seat my self to let you know that I am well and hoping that when this comes to hand it will find you the same We have a snow this morning about three inches deep and the whole woods is coverd with the white flours of frost it is just sun rise and nothing can be herd but the Sweets Sings of the Owl and the Soft nots of the Crow and the rattling of the telagraph wire I expect that we will be Musterd for our Shin plasters we was to be musterd yesterday but the Magor did not com e I expect he will come today we hafto take out our gun and knap sack haver sack Canteen and every thing that we have we have to put on our best every day go to meting close but these is now Church hear but a Catholick about three miles from Camp I have not bin to Chruch for about four months or over the people hear thinks nothing of a man if he does not Swear Kentucky is one of the most desolate places that ever I wan in in my life We was musterd to day when the Colonel come instid of the magor the colonel come when I was writing at this letter when he had musterd us fore of us prest a hand car and took the colonel & capton up to demolsville to muster the rest of the company and I have just returned and I feel very tierd it is not very much fun to run one of them little cars I would like to see you very well if I could git a furlough I would see you too but I hope and trust that I may return safe home and see all of my friends and injoy helth peace and happyness like I did when I was at home Well I have run out of gass I must bid you good night I remain your cousin til death

Write soon

Oscar Allen

To his Cousin Hetty Bracnkey