.NDQx.NTM5

The 97 is in trouble there is no General that will take us in their command, for what cause I do not. I think is is from the want of proper arms a sufficient number of men, the regiment can not command on parade more than 500 men, there is about 100 sick 100 on guard daily the balance 150 are sick all the time except meal times. Such men ought to be made to do duty but there is no Officers to enforce it. When Co. G. was mustered into the service there were about twenty borrowed men to fill up the company, the consequence is that the men have to stand guard every third night, in place of every fifth or sixth if there was a full company, marching every day and doing so much duty is enough to kill any man. We have six men in the hospital, and as many more that are good for nothing, four or five promoted out of the company wagoner cooks Corporals and sargents cuts the company down to about twenty privates fit for duty. Col Rutherford and Capt. Trible have both laid them liable to be cashiered for mustering a company into the regiment with its being full. Now Co. G has refused to do any more duty. There were three orders from the Col. to night for us to go on Battallion drill but there was no