Helena Ark Dec 8^th 62

 

My own dear Wife

                                    I am once more whare I can write to you and am as well and hearty as I ever was. I have not time to write you in full about our tripp but will do so in a few days. We crossed the river and went into Mississippi about 50 miles, marched the first day 27 miles and carried our loads and we wer very very tiered. I will onley say now that our Regiment was not in any fight and there was not much fighting done, but we destroyed a rail road bridge and tore up the track. I will tell you all about it in my next. Capt Johnson is now acting / Major, and I think will be appointed soon. Grozier is acting 2^d Lieutenant and I am acting Orderley Lieutenant Hyde is a very good officer and we all like him much better than we expected. If Johnson is Maj. I shall be Orderley which will pay me $20 per month, but I dont want you to say any thing about it to any one. I found a letter from you when I got back and it done me mor good than I can tell you. Emelia if I live to return to you we never will seperate. how I wish I could see you and the children heaven bless you. You wish to know about selling Kit you have a perfect right to sell any thing, but try and get what she is worth. I have not received one / cent of pay since I left Clinton but we expect to soon. I am going to send you an order for $40.00 that belongs to the Company and I will pay it to the Company when I get it and it will be all right, the Captain told me to do it. say nothing about it. Perhaps you will not need to sell Kit when you get the $40. The folks from Eden are all well but Rhinea and he is quite deaf. I wish you had sent me the things and I hope they will come yet for we can get nothing good here and our liveing is mostley hard bread and pork, but my health is good and I am all right please write me often and if you do not hear from me dont worey for we may be ordered away any hour but I shall let you know / if possible whenever we leave Give my fondest regards to Mr Campbell Mr Wallace Grandmother Jones and other friends. I was the means of freeing several slaves on our tripp I have a boy with me 16 or 17 years old he helped me to cary my load which was more than any White man would do. he is faithfull and I shall send him to Iowa if I get a chance and he can do more for you than all the Dorritys in the world. There is lots of Negroes here that would do the people much good in Iowa if they would get them. Dont stop writing if I do leave here for I shall get the letters sometime. I think I am better man than when I left and I shall keep good and pure for my own dear wife. Kiss the children for me and be as happy as you. Do you remember a year ago tomorrow I feel sad to think of it

 

Ever your George

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