Camp Kiamitia May 1^st 1863

 

            Dear wife I embrace this opportunity of dropping you a few lines which I hope may find you & the dear little ones all well and doing well and enjoying yourselves as well as circumstances will admit of we have been to Ft Smith since I commenced writing to you that is we started then in the direction of Boggy depot & travelled three days in that direction and received orders to report back to this place we arrived here to day by travelling in the rain till near dinner time and will leave in a day or two for Alexandria in Lousianna as to the news I can give you very little of it as we get no papers here but from what I can learn there will be some hard fighting this summer

 

Parson Hamel come in yesterday I was very much disapointed in not receiving a letter from you as I fully expected to get one from you and to hear from you all he could tell me was that he passed by a day or two before you he started and you were all well. he reports that the Indians have been in since I left and stolen some horses and killed some horses it is very much against my will to go in the direction we are going when there is a probability of that country being invaded by the Feds & Indians but I am tied here & will have to remain here I expect all I can say to you is you must do the best you can if it is invaded get away if you can our Major said this evning that there would be four regiments on the frontier this summer if that is so I dont think there will be much danger Colonel Diamond did not send me any papers down as he promised I do not know as it is will be worth my trial to get a transfer I could not get one without being examine by the Board of Physicians and pronounced unfit for infantry service and I have stood it very well so far some better than I expected Scruggs & Will Downard found there mules yesterday [torn away] / lost them again last night if we leave to morrow I expect we they will lose them clear I expect we will draw money to morrow if I do I will send you two hundred & three dollars I will also pay Ben Scruggs what I owe him & McKinley wh five dollars which will leave me about $20.00 for pocket money then I dont know that I can send you much more as I shall have to have a little to spend a lit there is a law passed now that each soldier shall have so many suits of clothing or there equivalent value in money if you are pushed about spining I had better draw my clothing I have as much as I want now but more of this anon I have nothing more at present to write to you now and remain your afectionate   Husband until death

                                                                       

Thomas W Johnson

           

Direct your letters to Paris of Spates Brigade company I of Hawpes of Regiment Te

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