Thomas Kimball, Jr to his parents 20 May 1863

              Murfreesboro Tennessee May 20th 1863 
Dear Parents -- I have just rec'ed your letter of the 24th which finds me well as usual. I rec'ed a letter from Aaron & Irene a day or two since they were in usual health and seemed in good spirits. they had not written to me for a long time and offered as an excuse that they had been very busy all the spring getting in crops.  Well I suppose they have.  I know when I was on the farm I used to dislike very much to write letters often to my friends, but since I have been in this camp I have deemed it a pleasure to correspond with my friends, as often as  I could elicit a response.  The weather here is very nice, it has been very hot & dry but yesterday & today we have had thunder showers cooling off the air and making it very pleasant. I went to town yesterday & went ontop of the Comt House where I had a splendid view, could see above every tent in the army, & all the fortifications.  Some of the Officers of the Signal corps painted our Pilot Knob on our left 10 miles &