My Dear Nephew–
Your welcome letter
reached me safely today, and having
written to your mother already and feeling
very tired, I did not intend writing you
tonight, but then I know you would like
to hear from your dear uncle–so here
goes–Well my beautiful you brag
as much as ever don’t you? I guess
you forget how I used to put you on my
Knee, and make you mind me–I suppose
you are almost large enough to handle
me now, but you should respect old age
George, and not threaten me so–O my boy
I only wish I had you here with me–
Wouldn’t I make you step around–and
you would have to touch your hat to me
every time I passed you, and when you

[page 2]
wanted anything of me, you would have to
stand at the door of my tent, with your
hand to our cap, and wait till I spoke
to you before you could speak–Yes my boy
I’d make you know your master–I wish
you could be on here George to see our camp–
more than a thousand horses & men to ride
them and when they ride (the men I mean)
out to Drill it is really a very fine sight–
the horses are going as fast as they can.
You should see them charge sometimes–
The sabres rattle, the men cheer, and it is
Enough to scare anyone–Don’t you think
it much pleasanter to make such a charge
in fun, than when you have an Enemy in
front of you firing with guns & cannons at you?
But them there is no child’s play about these
charges in fun, for Every day some of the men
get hurt–I only hope my boy that you
may never be a soldier, but if you Ever become
one–and a good one, you would ride over a

[page 3]
house if you are ordered to–Why think George
when I take my men out to drill for
ten hours in the morning- if a man speaks
or even turns his head when he has not my
permission-I punish him for it–Do you
want to now how we punish men? Well
I’ll tell you–Sometimes we put them in
the guard house for two or three days with
nothing but bread & water to live on–and hard
work all the time–Sometimes I stand a
man on a barrell & make him stand 2 or 3
hours or all day or night, and sometimes
put a large sign on his back and tie
him fast to a post on the parade
ground, and lots of other punishments, that
I won’t tell you of, for you will think
you have a very cruel uncle–Now we
don’t punish men who try to do their duty
& can’t do it, but only those who are lazy
or who are wilfully negligent, and try and
make all the rouble they can–

[page 4]
I wish you could see my horses–one
is a mare. The other one is a horse–I
bought him today for $50–He is a
small bay–but I think a very good
animal–The mare will go through
a house or fire or charge a rail
road train if you wanted her to–
Now I must stop-for I have already
written you a long letter–If you
have any questions to ask, do so & I will
answer–Just wait til I come back
next year, little Tom & I have funds[?]
Well we must wait–Now George
be a good boy. don’t run away skating
this winter when your other don’t want
you to, for you will surely get drowned if
you do–Kiss little tom dear little fellow
for me & Remember me to all the
boys–now old Pal[?] good night–write soon
to your affectionate uncle.

Al

[nothing is known about the identity of Al]
MSS 15277