Camp Demison Ohio, Oct 22d 1862 Dear Friend John you perhaps have come to the conclusion that I had forgotten my promise
to write you. I have several excuses to make for my negligence. I received a letter from William dated Madison Sept 18th stating
that he would take my things home etc. I thought it not necessary to write you im- mediately as I wished to write home. Well
a few days after I took a severe cold which settled on my lungs in my head and I was quite sick for several days. The news
came for our Regt to 617 march. I was not well enough to go with them and about a dozen of us were taken to a Hospital