Simsport Nov 12^th 1863

 

            Dear Wife as I have a little leisure I do not know how I can employ it better than to write you a few lines I am in the enjoyment of very good health I have had no room to grumble on that account since I left home although we have done a great deal of hard marching since that time we marched from Morgan's ferry up in to the pine woods to rest us. Some 60 or 70 miles we staid there one day & two nights & went back within 3 miles of Washington again Staid there some three or four days & the Feds got to warm for us we retreated two or three days & stopped two weeks the enemy begin to fall back & they have marched us three days to this place on the Atchafalia Walker's Division is here & crossing over & I suppose we will cross over in a day or two. I cannot learn what the object of the movement is & there are various speculations in regard to it I think the object is to take some transports or to stop navigation on the Mississippi the health of the troops is very good & generally in good spirits. we have plenty to eat Some of us are getting rather shabby for the want of clothes but none suffering only a few for shoes as it is too cold to go bafooted but the most of the regts have sent home for clothing I have plenty ecept pants & shoes but I think I will be able to get before I suffer as my shoes will last a while & my pants I can patch & my socks are worn out they are hard to get. if we go over here & whip the feds or take a transport may be will get some. reports are very favorable from a cross the river then [torn] in news to day that Brag had whiped Rosencrans [torn] & that Lee had almost annihilated Meads Army [torn] this is too good I am afraid, as it never turns out to be so 

 

I put a letter in the Office for you yesterday morning this will start out by hand in the morning So I am in hopes you will get one of them. I received one from you last week which I answered last week you wrote that Mr Gooden had sold my land he got as much as I told him to sell it for but the way money is depreciated it was not enough but how somever I had rather you had the money now than the land & am in hopes that I may learn a lesson from that speculation. as to coming home I cannot give you any idea when I want to come this winter if possible if I dont you will have to do the best you can if Jess moves off I dont know how you will manage to get your wood but necessity is said to be the Father of invention & maybe you can invent some plan to get it at least I shall have to hope so for the present. they are trying to consolidate the companies of this Regt into six I do not know how they will make it Give my respects to enquiring friends & write to me as often as you can give Jess & Matilda my love write to me what Jess is doing & all the news tell Eddy to send me word what he is learning that I think he will be a good boy while I am gone & Johny & Willie kiss them for me tell Johny I want him to learn some too so no more but send you my love & respects yours truly

                                                                                               

Thomas. W. Johnson

 

P S I thought when I commenced writing I would send this in ben's letter but as I cannot get it in well I will send myself Clark Loring is here & well well my Dear wife I hardly know what to wish to you Oh what a pleasure it would be to me to se & be with you all a while to embrace you once more in my arms & to have you talk again O when shall it be May God grant that the time may not be long & may take us under his special [torn] now & forever more is my prayer yours in love                        T.W.J.

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