Jan 23rd, 1864 

Dear Aunt Melissa, 

Yours of the 15th inst was gladly received in last night's mail and need I assure you it was a source of much pleasure to me I was very glad also to hear from Grandfather and to learn that you were all in good health and enjoying yourselves with him. I believe I wrote you soon after our arrival here and told you why we were here. Since I wrote the enemy have moved down in front of us some eleven thousand strong and are composed of Cavalry and mounted Infantry with some Artillery. Our Artillery was playing upon them (to use a military phrase) all day yesterday but I think it did not amount to much. We have been having some very cold weather here accompanied with a little snow and although we have had to undergo some pretty hard fatigues since we left our Corps still I never enjoyed better health in my life for which I feel to thank our Heavenly Father very much. I feel very grateful to you and Uncle for your kindness in offering to give me the charge of the farm this coming Summer and yet I hardly know how to answer you for I do want to study as much as I can after my term of service expires which will be on the 30th of June However, I can study through the winter and should be very much pleased to do the best I can for you on the farm until that time. Aunt Melissa, this is the holy Sabbath and how I wish I were with you away from these scenes of profanity, vulgarity, and bloodshed "Our Heavenly Father give me grace and strength to resist temptations and do my whole duty in a right manner is my daily prayer" but oh, it is hard to do this and resist evils.

I have not reenlisted yet neither shall I. The men of our Regiment that have gone home on Furloughs tonight. I believe, therefore, it is now too late regarding my Grandfather in England to give me a good home (to use his own words) and to give me a good education if I would come to him but his offers were given in rather a brief manner and I have been waiting for another letter before deciding what I should do. Please write me again when convenient. Give my love to Uncle an all other friends and accept this from your Nephew, 

Covell (Woods)