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is stationed at Camp Polk island no 10, on the ___ [?] river. Suppose you write to Ellen. She is the oldest one at home. was just 14 the day her step mother died. Doubtless she loved her as she would have done her own Mother, never having known any other. Uncle Wm. says he is afraid Judge is going into consumption . he has a very bad cough. Poor John is disabled again with boils. He can't get about [?] looks pitiful. Amuses himself reading Rollin [?] to Laura. He sits in the rocking chair with his ancient atlas & dictionary to help him understand what he reads. We haven't heard from Sawney since I wrote you last. That is we have not had a letter from him. We heard [?] Billy ___ [?] mentioned in his letter to B. Morrow [?] a few days ago, he was well. We heard from ___ [?] ___[?] he was well & ___ [?] ___[?] was better. ___[?] said cous. [?] was afraid to come home lest the anticipated battle might come off in his