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I send you a confederate shin plaster letter 10^cts

 

Marine Hospital N.O. L.A July 16^th 1863

 

Dear Wife

                        Since I wrote my last to you I have recd one from you and I was very glad to get it for of late it seems as though I am more anxious than ever to hear from home and watch the mail very close to see if there is not something for me in it

 

            I am yet in the Marine hospital and still keep improving slowly but do not feel as stout as I have before but hope that soon I shall be all right & do not give yourself any uneasiness about me for I calculate to take good care of myself and I have a doctor that takes all the pains with me that he can he seems to think a greatdeal of me for some reason. I wanted to go back to the Regiment but he would not let me for he said that it was no place for me to be

 

            Your letter that I got was written the 23^d & 26^th of June you said you had one of the best gardens in town and had a plenty of radishes and lettuce I am glad that you have some thing to eat for I fear that your means or money is used up I have send you $10 within a few days past and will send you more as soon as I can get it

 

            You speak of the cherries and that you would like for me to be there and get some of them I should like to have them but do not save them for my helping you eat them is out of the question. I also have some nice things to eat here such as watter & musk mellons, green corn & cucumbers ripe plumbs &c that reminds me that I ment to have told you that I had ripe plums and green corn cucumbers &c in May I wished that you and the children could eat some with me. We also have had young potatoes for six weeks back

 

            Your speaking about flowers makes me think that I must send you some Holyhock seeds they are a pale yellow out side and wine colored inside as soon as the seed is ripe I will send you some plant some this fall and some in the spring 

 

I am glad that you have got rid of that pest that was in the other part of the house Even though she tried to do her worst before she left I found that I made a mistake when I let them come in there I did not know them as well as I ought to before I took them in but they are out now so tell them go and find company that suits them some where else. what she tells Bill I do not care for any more than I do for her they are both about alike Do the best you can with the house and yard and when I get there I will try to improve it all that I can

 

I must say that I am glad & also sorry for what you told me of the company that you had I am glad that you have had a visit from Aunt Polly because she is such good company and yet I am sorry because I was not there to see and visit her for I think a greatdeal of her. If she is yet there when you get this give her my best respects and tell her that I am very much obliged to her for coming to see you I will make her a visit if possible when I get home again. I hope when I come home to go up the Mississippi and down through Mich for the river is clear now and some of the 9 months men start for home that way to morrow I shall put one dollar in this letter for you it is but a little but is the best that I can do now I will repeat it as often as I can and as large amounts as I can                

 

  It done me good to hear you speak so well of the children I am glad that they are both so good as they are Tell Frank that he must be a good boy while Pa is gone and I will send him as many nice things as I can If he will be a good boy until I get home I will give him the watch that I brought with me he must do what you want him to and go to school and learn so that he can write to me Tell Lilly that Pa feels proud of her for being such a good girl and learning so fast I will try and get her a new dress and send her before long tell her I send her and Frank a kiss in this letter for their being good children but I must close for this time I have sent you two papers yesterday and two to day give Reynolds one of each

L. V. Tucker

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