Friend Darwin Your kind letter is recieved.

Headquarters Dept Cumberland,
Medical Director’s Office,
Stevenson, Ala, Aug. 29th, 1863

Friend Darwin:

Your kind letter is received. I am very thankful for your service [bravery?] and regret that I did not receive the letter of yours you speak of—I should certainly have honored them by replying.  The last letter I wrote you was sent to your address at Rensselaer  Falls.  Since then I’ve written your parents regarding a little amount which I owe them; - they have never replaied, and I have dropped the matter till I see them. 

            I assure you I am glad to hear of your continued good health and hope you will live to return to your people sound in mind and body as you left them.  I suppose you are enlisted for three years—how much longer have you to serve?  My time will expire on the 1st of June 1864, - nine months longer.  I trust the war will be over ere that time passes.  Indeed I am of opinion it will.  The insurrection is getting, as the “Yankees” say, “whittled down to a fine point”.  The sham federacy will collapse one of these early days, and its destruction will be more sudden and complete than was its inauguration.  How the Rebs howl now over this condition and recent and thick coming disasters!  There, again, with what consummate sophistry the gloss them over, and argue that the defeats are all for the “glory” of the “Confederacy”.   Ah, well, let them howl; ‘tis only the “bubbling up” of the of the damned thing as it sinks beneath the waters of perdition.
My health has been remarkably good since I enlisted.  I have suffered but little from sickness.  The time, too, has passed pleasantly enough; since my being distracted here at Dept. H’Qrs- now nearly a year- it has been very pleasant and instructive.
We are slowly but surely encompassing Chatanooga and soon you will hear that another Rebel stronghold has fallen.  Charlston, too, if it has not already, will soon fall.  Then with Grant in possession of Ala., Bragg driven into Georgia, and our glorious [Rosencrans?] and Gillmore and Dal_____ left free to act elsewhere- the rebellion will be “gone up” in fact; and if Meade could whip Lee that would be the end, - the game would be up, and treason forever sunk to the lowest depths of ______ where it belongs.

The letter from your mother, Mrs. Sunderland, which I received, is indeed interesting.  It must really be delightful to have someone to feel for and sympathize with you in your absence from home.  Could I receive a letter like that from my mother now I would prize it highly indeed, though I sadly fear that I was not more obedient and respectful than I should be when I had a fond mother to care for me. ------ But, thus it ever is.  We never know how immeasurably dear any great, good gift of God is until we are about to lose, or have lost, it.
With your letter came one from Brother Tom.  He is in the 6th Regt N.Y. Cav’y and quite well and contented.  His position is that of Chief Bugler.  He likes it very well.
I also hear from Turner of your Regt occasionally.  He belongs to Co. “D”.  Do you know him?  Please give him my regards and say I would like to hear from him again.  I replied to his last letter.
I am really very delighted with the summary manner in which the Draft is picking up recruits.  Semi-copperhead loafers, barroom and grocery captains and strategists and other of that ilk.  I say it does me good and I want to see them marched into the front rank on the double quick and change on the enemies batteries in reality.  ‘Tis a real pity that the country should lose the services of such _______patriots (?)  I say make them fight. 
I have received a copy of the Republican containing a list of the drafted in St. Law. Co.  I am acquainted with many of them.  I am glad to hear that Jerome is well.  We may have the pleasure of seeing him and Hattie [wedded?] one of these days.  Please remember that your letter will be always welcome and gladly answered by me.  Give my regards to any of my old friends you may know in your Regt and believe me
Very truly your friend

P.A. Wells