Dear sister,
I again sit myself to write you a few lines to let you know I am well and doing very well at ____. I recieved your letter of the 2nd January yesterday which was the first one since I left home. I have written you several times but recieved n answer yet. I have had the measels but they did not hurt me much. The 3rd Regiment is now station in Mobile. I saw father last Sunday he was well. Mr. Heaton is goin home before long and I will send my coat home by him. We are faring very well now and we are getting plenty of pork and meal ____. We get one Days ration of ______ in every ten Days and two of_____. There is strong talk of peace here now is sayed there has been commissioners sent from Richmond to the government at Washington to see if they could not come to some terms of peace. Savannah has fallen and Shermon is marching towards Charleston. Hood has left Tennessee and is sending his Army through this place on to Charleston and things look to be against us but I hope for a better day. Since I began this letter the report has been circulated that we leave this place before to long and go to P______ but I don't believe it we have an easy time here and I think that Col. Rice will stay here as long as he can. There will be an exciting election in our Regiment in a few Days for field officers, there will be an exciting race between Col. Rice and Col. Law for _____. Capt. Fulton will run for Lt. Col. but will be ______he is a very good Captain. So is all of our compay officers except Lt. A.J. Smith and we all want to get rid of him. I have recieved a letter from mother by todays mail. Well girls I wish that I could be at home with you but it can not be yet. But I hope this cruel war will soon end so the we can all go home and be peace. I come to a close by you to write as soon as you get this letter. So nothing now at present, I remain your borther until death.
Z. T. Smith