March 31st 1863 

Dearest Aunt, 

Many thanks for your welcome letter of the 20th which I received in due time and which was to me a source of true delight. Although it grieved me much to hear that you are still troubled with that pain in your head, how much you must suffer!

Spring is now fairly opened upon us here and to one like myself who has been confined and their means of exercise limited it seems truly delightful. The sun shines bright and clear and to us who have been visited with many storms this golden orb of brightfulness seems a blessing to all and were it not for this desolating war this would be to me the happiest season of my life for as I look back over the past and remember how I have been blessed and preserved from danger by our Heavenly Father I feel that I would be an ungrateful wretch indeed did I not feel grateful and thankful to Him for His kindness in watching and guarding me so tenderly that my life has been ever spared and my person protected from many a missile of destruction and death. What could give one more happiness than the thoughts of such a kind and watchful Guardian.

My health is now a great deal better and I am now once more doing duty and it seems pleasant after so long a cessation. My breast is still pretty lame and hurts me some to wear my belts but I hope soon to recover from this for I think there is no bone broken.

I was very glad to hear that Uncle Reuben, Mr Burdid and other friends are enjoying that best of God's blessings good health without which I have learned by bitter experience we are miserable. Truly few can more fully appreciate good health than myself.

I suppose that by the time this reaches you we shall have left here. We should march today but it rained some last night so it is now muddy but I think as today has been a beautiful day it will soon dry up and we shall then march and soon perhaps to meet the enemy once more in a close and hot engagement. May it be to us victorious and may our once prosperous country be speedily restored to the peacefulness and prosperity we once enjoyed.

I was greatly pleased although surprised to receive the letter from my Grandfather in London which I found enclosed with yours. I had thought of him often and supposed him to be dead for the last letter my dear Father received from him and his wife and daughter was in 1849 in the month of March. I have several of his letters in my trunk in Iowa and I assure you, dear Aunt, I shall write to them if I do not receive a letter in due time.

As it is getting late in the evening and the taps have beaten (a signal for blowing out lights) I must draw this epistle of pencil scratchings to a close.

How I wish I could be with you this Summer but as I cannot. lf you can get cousin Samuel, he I think will do the best of anyone I know of but I should think his Mother would want him in Aurora (Iowa) for there is no one there now for her to look to for support. I often wish I could go to school for if I had a little better education l would feel that I could carry on any business as convenient.

Please write soon. Give my love to all who are kind enough to enquire. Excuse this poor writing and mistakes. Accept the good wishes and true esteem of your loving Nephew, 

A. C. Woods 

P.S. Address as usual. God grant that you may be soon restored to good health. Good Night and sweet repose. From your Nephew, 

Covell 

I am sorry to have to send this letter without a stamp for it is impossible for me to obtain one 

Please tell Uncle Reuben that it will be impossible for me to get my discharge as long as I am able to help myself and I do not want it if I am able to do my duty properly.

Adieu 

A.C.W. 

Letters of Alfred Covell Woods. 

Contributed by J. Tierney