July 12^th 1864

 

            Dear Wife not having an opportunity of sending my letter yet I will write a few more lines to let you know that I am still improving in health & hope that I may soon be stout again I will return to duty in a day or two if I get no worse B H Scruggs came in this morning he said he left all the folks well when he left he did not get to se you he said he had so much riding to do hunting up his stock that he could not spare the time to go to se you he says his sheep were scattered awfully & that a great many were gone entirely I was expecting to get a letter by him from you I forgot to state to you that we had got our clothing once more I found all I left safe & in very good order I have clothing enough to make out on until fall such as they are I mentioned in my first that some men were going to start in a few days back to get clothing I do not know when they will start now or whether they will go at all or not I am in hopes that we will be able to draw clothing before long we are fixing up here as though we were going to stay all summer but that is not much sign how long we would will stay here all the news we can hear from across the river is good I have heard nothing from Ed Milton yet it is time I was getting a letter from him I suppose you will have moved before you get this I am in hopes you will be better satisfied where you move I do not expect not to get off home before fall now I am making calculations to come then if I can /

 

I want you to get along the best you can & if there is provisions made for soldiers families I will advise you to avail yourself of it as I do not expect to be able to furnish you any more money & I think there will not be any wrong in it as what we get here is merely nothing while those you have to buy from are making plenty & some of them fortunes I know you could get what you want from Jess but if you can save it, it will be better for us we have meeting here evry night now I was not out last night I am not taking that interest in it that I ought I know that I am not serving my God as I ought to Oh will you pray to him to forgive me my sins & strengthen me in the faith that I may be able to do my whole duty Oh Betty let us try to do our duty here & consider that our trials & tribulations here are not to be compared with our happiness in heaven if we are so happy as to get there Give Jess & Matilda my love & respects also enquiring friend & yourself & children in particular your affectionate Husband

Tho. W. Johnson

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