Knoxville, Tenn.
Oct. 20, 1861

Dear Bride,

I take the present opportunity of informing you and family and
friends that I and Bob and all the rest of the friends are well at present
and trust in God you are the same.

I had first rate luck in getting along after I left home until I
got to Knoxville where the boys were and found all of them a great deal
better than they were when I left them to go home. I had good luck in
getting my goods shipped. I got them all save here and nothing missing. Mr.
Hollis' clothing has not gotten here yet.

There was a good deal of talk after I got back of us moving up to
Cumberland Ford, up in Kentucky. There are now forty of each company in our
Regiment now started. We stared yesterday evening and went 4 miles and
struck camp and we are here yet. I don't know when we will leave here.
Some think we will go on tomorrow evening and some think we will be ordered
back to where the rest are.  Nearly all of our neighbor boys are along with
me.  All but the Berryhill Boys, D. D. Memin, D. Wheeler, Thad Webb, Bob
Moss and Bill Moss.  They stayed. I do not know where we will go.

I can't give you but very little more news. I don't think there is
but little chance now for us to get into a fight this winter. They are
going to keep us behind to guard the points behind. The rest of the army
are not treating us right, I don't think, for we want to see some of the
fun in fighting the Yankees, too, as well as the rest.

J. N. Watson has resigned his office and the vacancy was filed by
Bankhead and his by Humpries and I was appointed third lieutenant by the
colonel. I wanted it to be left to a vote but the Colonel would not allow
it to be done.

I will write to you again as soon as I find out where we are going.
You can still direct  your letters to Knoxville until you find out whether
we have left there or not. If we have left  there they will be forwarded on
after us. I have not time to write any more so farewell for this time.

A. M. Aston

David Lee says t tell his wife that he is well and is going on with me.  He
would like to see her and the children very well and he expects to come
just as soon as he can get off.

A. M. Aston