Incredible Letter and CDV 30th Ohio Inf, Battles, Patriotism, and Racial Content

Incredible Letter and CDV 30th Ohio Inf, Battles, Patriotism, and Racial Content. The letter and CDV are of Thomas Rossiter of the 30th Ohio Infantry. Rossiter served with the 30th until March 18, 1863 when he died of disease. He was buried in the Vicksburg National Cemetery. 
Letter Transcription,
February the 11th 1862
Dearest ones,
It is with pleasure that I sit down to write to you. I am well at the present and well fed and I hope when these few lines when you may get them will find you in the same health today. I have been building a chimney to our quarters and it is very cold today but it has been snowing all day and freezing. When I got our building the chimney, we put a fire in it and oh what a fire and the next was for our dinners. Then our Niger Cook did cease a round and oh what a dinner we did get bread, meat, beans, coffee, sugar, oh the way the bloody thirtieth did live that day.
I tell you I have had good times here and some hard times when I come out here. I stayed out 3 or 4 nights in succession but I didn't mind that much. I was a fresh man then in the war, I have seen horror times since I don't think so much about a few hardships now as I did then. Oh if I wouldn't be in a war.
There was a scout sent out of our camp on the 8th and came back on the 16th. They went about 40 miles from the camp and went to a Sucesh Camp.. There were 300 cavalry and about 500 hundred militia.
There were about 30 of our cavalry run, all of them run off all of them. They killed and wounded some of them and took 3 prisoners. They were Sucsesh looking fellows. I tell you we don't think anything of being drawn up in the line of battle. I have been drawn up in the line of battle 3 times since I have been here in the service but I didn't get to fight any and to tell the truth, I didn't want to be in it very bad. There are about 500 in our camp and there is right smart of sickness in our camp. There was one who died here today but I can not tell you the complaint. We dare to say the names of the men that died in the camp.
There our five of our boys in the hospital now but they are getting better. I think they will get well soon.
There are about 3 Regiments (Confederate) about 25 miles from our camp. We are looking for to being attacked here every day but I think we will be attacked here anytime soon, hooray for the Stars and Stripes. Now I must quit writing about the war now at the present but when you write me a letter I will write you some more news.
I have got very good times here now. There are ten or twelve girls in the camp where I am now and the name of the camp is Raleigh and a fine town it is but for the girls, i can not make myself at home with them. I can't go in the room now and say an earful like I used to as your house provides. I tell you I want at home now, I have to first do as I am told. I have to drill four hours in a day and when I was at home I could drill myself. Tell Uncle John that I intend to come home in a few days and split some more rails for him. Don't you take that for the truth about the splitting of the rails. This is the second letter I have written to you and you haven't written me a letter yet. Now I must bring my letter to a close by saying that I want you to answer my letter and tell me how the folks are in that country. I got my likeness taken and sent it home with my uniform and I intend to get it taken and send it to you. I send my best respects to you
Thomas Merome Rossiter
Direct your letter to Gallipolis Ohio in the care of Captain Columbus C Logan(?) and same Co K 30
Regiment
I want you to answer this letter as soon as you receive this letter