Camp in the field April 16^th 1864

 

            Dear Wife your favor of March 21 came to hand yesterday & was read with a great deal of pleasure & satisfaction I was sorry though to learn of your bad health & the misfortune of my sister also of her bad health I am sorry to learn of the bad prospects for crops it seems like the prospects bid fair for a famine this year but I hope & trust that the season may be more favorable from this out you said that Jess had just finished planting 25 acres of corn & that you had dropped it for him which looks like you were going to have a share in it well I am in hopes that between you and among you you will make enough to live on but from the way you write I am inclined to think that you are trying to do too much you complain of your side & shoulder & I do not think you make it out as bad as it is I suspect you are in the habit of carding a goodeal which I know does not agree with you & if it does not I want you to do as little of it as possible you know that health is the most valuable of all & without it is not much enjoyment let me beg of you then for my sake & for your childrens sake to take care of yourself I know it is a noble nature in you to do so & I proud of you for it I will expect you to do the best by Matilda while she is sick that you can for she has had / a hard time & needs all the comfort & consolation you can give her I was surprised to hear what had befallen her & cases of that kind are very rare but probably under the existing circumstances that it was mercy in our heavenly Father that he did not let them live as there is not the least doubt but what they are much better off than if they had lived & her too poor thing though she would realize the blessing of health if she could once more have it I would be glad for you to stay with them & will expect you to do so until I get back but they have so little room & are crowded up so that I know it is very inconvenient for them as well as yourself & after Matilda gets well you might spend some of your time with your cousin which would be a change for you & I am in hopes a pleasure too I will not advise you in regard to your arrangements though only to say to you to do the best you can as to coming home I have the same old song that is I do not know when. I am sorry you did not get to see James Downard he promised to go & se you I will be very proud of the socks if he fetches them as to suspenders I have neglected to tell you that I have not had a pair on since last summer but if they come I expect I will put them on again we are looking for Jim in now the furloughed men are coming in pretty well three of our company that run off came in the other day under guard & will be tried by court martial for desertion & two of them for horse stealing I expect

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