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[Oct 1862] In Camp Near Cynthiana Ky. Dear Sister As we have camped to day I thought I would write home for I do not know if I will have the chance to do so very soon if I dont at the present it is one week since we left fort Mitchel we have been marching ever since the [illegible] day we marched only 6 miles for it was Friday afternoon. Saturday we marched some 10 miles and all of us thought we were walking very far but on Sunday we marched 18 miles over roads that were very bad. Monday we covered 15 miles over roads that were almost impassable hills & hollows were in abunans Monday night we camped in Falmoth Ky. The Rebels held that place about two weeks ago we stoped thair till Wednesday morn at Falmoth we camped in a field where the clods of dirt we hard as rocks [begin vertical writing] dirt than I ever did before why one day we had coffee which we had to strane through our teeth to keep from swallowing the peases of toe nales. Talk about having hard times in Illinois down here they are glad to eat any thing. I have not heard fr you for some time hope you will or have wrote give my respect to all I have not time to write more if I had I would of given you a better description of our march, which I have not half described. I only of said we have had a hard march as so we have Direct to the 97 Regt Ill Vol. Comp G. Ky. To follow the Regt. Your Broth J Rowe [end vertical writing]