M^cNeitts Hill                         

July 10^th 1864

 

                        Dear Wife I am happy to be able to avail myself of this opportunity to write to you again to let you know how I am and what we are doing I am not very well at this time I have been unwell for some two weeks or more with the diarhea it has gotten me down so that I am weak & not able to do much I am improving now & able to knock around considerably & I think I will get well soon as we have good pure water to use here we have been using very bad watter which I think is the principle cause of my disease I got to this place yesterday the Brigade got here last thursday to day being Sunday I was not able to keep up with the command & walk they left me at Alexandria & sent back after me this place is about 18 miles from Alexandria west I think we were moved up here on account of health & rations it was very difficult to get rations when we were at Marksville I think we will be likely to stay here during this simmer at least I hope so only those that can get to go home & you may guess who I hope will be one of that happy number yet my chances are very slim as there are so many that are working to go home & I have no assurance whatever of getting to go there will be one get to go the last of this month provided the one that was furloughed last goes comes in at his time I will have about one chance in a dozen I have no news of interest to write to you more than I have received some very welcome letters from you since I wrote last yours of the 30^th of may came to hand about a week ago & was read with a great deal of pleasure all but it made me sorry to learn how hard you took it when Ben come home & I didnt get to come I hate to have you disappointed so much would to God I could help it it should not be so long. you said you had a piece of cloth weaving for a neighbor that was very rotten I am sorry when you make such bargains as I made on myself about 23 months ago but you said that when we make a bad bargain stick the closer to it so I will try & take your advice in this case No. 15 and 16 came to hand a few days ago I have not had an opportunity since of writing you they were read with much pleasure & satisfaction / your last was written June the 20 & came through sooner than any letter for a long time I am glad to hear that you have plenty to eat & to wear & we should be thankful that we have that for there are thousands in in this country that have not got that only as they draw from the government when I read that you had plenty of beans peas & beets I could hardly keep from crying because I could not be there help you share them I am happy that you have got them & I recon you got plenty of milk & butter & bread which we would be happy to get here. well I have heard some good news just now & it is thought reliable it is that Lee has repulsed Grant at Richmond & that Grant was killed in the fight it is said that they charged on to our men seven times in their ditches & that our men were furnished six or seven guns apiece when the feds would charge them they would shoot just as fast as they could pick up guns & when they would fall back they would reload again they drove them back with great slaughter it said that the federals have all their flags in mourning it is also stated that they have evacuated New Orleans on account of the yellow fever & have come up on the La Fouch which will not be much better if this news be true

 

I think that there will certainly be some accommodation before long I cant see how they can expect to conquer us with our prospects ahead now there is nothing going on now this side of the river now that I hear of our cavalry is down below watching their movements walkers command is North of the river. Ben's time is out & we are looking for him we have thirty men present here in this company now Some of our deserters have come in & we are entitled to elect a captain & Liet if Ben was here he would be elected captain I think.

 

well there is men a going to start out from here in a day or two to get clothing for the soldiers from their homes. I hardly know whether to send for any or not there will be a depot to deposit clothing at McKinney which would be your nighest point they are to be there against the 1^st of October, if you can you had better send me a pr of pants & a coupple of shirts & a pr of drawers which will last me next winter I dont want more than I can barely do with & if I could draw I would not send for any but it looks like they cant be got I will write more about that anon

 

I must come to a close kiss the children for me my love to you & them to Jess & Matilda & family give my respects to enquiring friends & do the best you can betty for yourself & children & friends & may God in his mercy help you in so doing & in living as you would like to die write soon my Dear wife it is good to me to hear from you So no more

 

yours in love & affection                                           

Tho.W.Johnson

                                   

M E Johnson

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