Mills Springs, Kentucky
December 1, 1861

Dear brother:

I can gladly inform you that I am well, also all the other boys are
well. I hope at reception of these lines you and all of the rest of the
family will be well.

I cannot give you a correct account of what we are going to do. We
have gotten here close to the Cumberland River and stopped. We are now
within 11 miles of where the Lincoln forces are stationed.  They are right
up the river on the other side. Their pickets and ours fire at each other
every day across the river. They have sunk the boats on the rive so that we
can't cross. We got here this morning and now we have set in to building
boats this evening so that we can cross. From the best information that we
can get there are about 5 or 6 thousand of them up there. All we can find
out now about what we are going to do is to guess at it, for everything
will be kept as near a secret as possible, tho' I think that we will cross
the river down here, go up to where they are and scare them out from where
they are for they have been retreating back from us.  We have passed
several of their camps for the last week. I have no idea that they will
stand where they are and give us a fight. I think as soon as we cross the
rive they will leave where they are, tho' they may not. But if this Brigade
does get into a fight I am afraid they will not let our Regiment into it
for they say that we are all the three year volunteers there are in the
Brigade and we will be kept back for a reserve, if there is any fighting. I
believe nearly everyone of our boys are real keen to get into it and they
are going into it if there  is any chance.

Hugh, I will write to you again in a few days. I am not able to say
when any of us will get to come home. Hugh, I want you and Manurva to try
to keep everything straight or as near as you can until I come home.
Manurva, anything you need to live on I want you to buy it and I will send
money home by the first chance to pay for what you get.

Manurva, I would be the proudest in the world to see you and the
children this evening. I want you to kiss Walter for me, if you please.
Tell all of the children to be good until I come home. i aim to come home
in January if there is any possible chance.

Write to us often. So, goodbye for this time.

A. M. Aston