Marine Hospital New Orleans La Jan 11^th 1863

 

Dear Wife

            As the mail that was to leave here last Saturday has been delayed and does not leave until to morrow I will write a few more lines to you and send by the same mail that the other goes by although I have not much to write but yet I will write a little such as it is

 

            I got a Newark paper of Dec 25^th yesterday I thought by the way that it was cut and torn that you must have thought that there was something in it that you did not want me to read, there was almost one whole column cut out and the top was badly torn to pieces

 

            I am glad that you have been able to get you some thing to eat if it is nothing but pork but I have no doubt but that you have got first rate meat if you got it of Mr. Reynolds for he would not bring you anything that was not good

 

            But I see by your letter that you have had the misfortune to break your ring and I suppose that that is a pretty good hint that you want an other. Well I suppose that I shall have to send you one so as to keep you from crying your eyes out about it so dry up your tears for here it comes look out for it. But have you got them that I sent frank and Lilly yet I sent them some two or three weeks since. I sent them in seperate letters one to each of the children You had not better send lilly to school any more this winter until she gets entirely well of her sickness 

 

            The weather here is very disagreeable and has been for the last two weeks raining about every day and is very chilly all of the time. I feel sory for the boys in camp with nothing but their shelter tents and they are very poor shelter to

 

            The Doctor told me yesterday that he heard that our regiment were going to be turned into heavy Artilery if that is so they will probably be stationed some where to do garison duty and if that is the case I shall go to the Regiment as soon as it gets a little warmer weather, for I had rather be with them than to be here unless that they are going on a march but Heavy Artilery is generally stationed in some fort for to guard that.

 

            How do you get along for money can you manage to live with what you get I have not yet got my pay but hope I shall soon I do not need it so much but I want to send it to you for you must want some by this time I think

 

            I have got Mr Reynolds letters and answered them all. I answer them generally the same day that I get them for I think to much of him to neglect his letters and not answer them as soon as I can after I get them

 

            But I will stop for this time and write again in time for Saturdays mail. Write as often as you can to me and I will answer all you write

 

Yours as Ever

L. V. Tucker

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