Greenville Miss April 22^d 1863

 

My own dear Wife Emelia

                                                I received a good long letter from you yesterday a line from Mr Campbell and some slips cut from the papers. that is the best way when you see any thing in the papers that you wish me to read clip it and send in a letter for papers do not come safe. I tell you my good little Wife we have lived high since we got the things from home. I will tell you what we had for dinner. Roast potatoes, sausage, sweet corn, corn bread, butter, apple sauce pickles and cheese, all niceley cooked by Dick and Lieutenant Weston, all set on a table in the Greenville Hotell. By the way the officers of the 26 are runing this house at presant and the men are quartered in houses close by. Tell brother C. that distributed the potatoes as I thought was right. I have enjoyed them much and I thank him a thousand times for sending them. I suppose they are the last we will get but I hope not. We are ordered to be ready to march in the morning I dont know how long we shall be gone or how far we are going so dont worey if you do not hear from me. We shall bring in every thing that we can that is of uce to the government and all the slaves that will come. I feel glad to go on such expeditions for I can do some good I will write you all about it when I return. Every thing was all right and good in the box but the pickles and the / butter was not very good. I should know it was not your make but dont say a word to Hatty tell her I was very glad to get it and the honey was very nice. Others had butter come in little canns and pails that was sweet and nice, but mine was mighty strong. I will tell you how I think you had better put up butter. make it midling salt and mix through it a few grains of whole peper and pack in a tin or earthern can, if tin it must be bright and not a bit rusty but dont send any thing unless it is by some one that will bring it safe, and if it comes in a box by itself it must be strong and well hooped as it will be opened and the things taken out. I wrote you once not to send me any more dried fruit, but I find I cannot get it as I expected and you can send some if it is not to high. in fact you can send whatever you are a mind to, a few Boston crackers would be good but put them in whare they will keep dry. always send butter when you can. I am mad at myself for troubling you so much about sending me things when you have so much to do, but I know you take almost as much pleasure in prepareing them as I do in receiveing. If you send me the boots do not get to heavy ones I want good pegged boots I think they are as good as sewed and cost less. I wear No 9^s. I should like a pair of flanel shirts as I cannot draw such ones as I ought to wear or such ones as you would allow me to wear if you should see them. The vest, pants shirts, and boots is all I need in the clothing line and I should think that was enough. I think you had better put them in the valiece that was Alberts and and fill up with / something elce (if there is any room) It will be of uce to me here to put my things in when we move and is just what I need but dont send it unless you can spare it as well as not. if you have not got the key perhaps you can find one that will fit. One thing a came near forgeting. I want you to get me 2 boxes of Seidlits Powder they will cost I suppose 25 cts each but whenever you get any thing to send me of any kind you must tell them it is for your soldier husband and they must let you have it as cheap as they can. Some black pepper ground would be a good thing. Tom Williams says your heifer is at Freemans and I will tell you how I think you can get her. You go to Mr Freeman yourself as soon as possible after you get this, say nothing to any one elce, but tell him you understand that your red heifer is there at least one that looks like yours, and if he has one that does not belong to him claim it and have it taken home. If he wants to know how it is marked tell him you could not swear which ear was slit but you would know her if you could see her. I think Mr C. might tell something about her though she was very young when he saw her, but you take the course I tell you and I think you will get her let me know how you succeed of course you will have to pay for her keeping wharever you find her. I believe this is the poorest letter I have wrote you for a long time but I have done it quick for I wish to write to John and Vina. I will do better next time. Let me give you one kiss and say good night. Ever your own true George

 

I have used some tobacco since I joined the armey and I sometimes I use a little now but I promice you I never will use it if I return home I could get along without it without any trouble but I truley think that what I use is a benefit to me I think it once saved me from small pox but you shall never see me use it /

 

I wish you could send me some socks part or all coton. Dont knit any it will not pay it will do better to buy them. they could be bought once for .25cts a pair if they are not to high send 4 or 5 pair have the legs as long as you can get them. I will sureley write about John Schuyler next time but I could not now. ever your George

SOURCES