Camp Near Monroe LA

Sept 12^th 1864

 

Dear Wife

                        I avail myself of the present opportunity of writing you a few lines again to let you hear from me once more in Lousianna as we have orders to march in the morning in the direction of Monticello Arkansas we have been here some eight days one mile above Monroe on the Washita river I have not had the pleasure of going to the city since I have been here. we passed through it coming here it is a very place. I suppose that we are going up to act against General Steel Gen Walker has been transfered to Texas & General M^cGruder has been transfered to Arkansas So I suppose we will be under him when we get there I have not heard what they have done with the old veteran Price. I wrote you a letter by Capt Devenport the day before we got here by which you will perceive the state of my mind for the last two or three months & I fear I have caused you a gooddeal of trouble unnecessaryly by writing as I have but I wrote according to the circumstances & prospects & I perceive that a soldier has but little idea of his future movements in the army I had thought also that my prospects for coming home were favorable at some times but I am sorry to let you know that I dont se but little prospect of coming home now they have quit furloughing all only sick men I thought when we started up here that the system would be resumed again but it has not & I think our Gen. Polignac is opposed to the system altogether So all I can say to you about my coming home is not to look for me untill you se me I know that it would have been better if I had never wrote any thing about coming home but you know my feelings on the subject There is a good deal of talk in camp about a prospect of peace but I suppose is nothing more than camp talk would to God that it was so I still think that peace will be made between now & spring but if Lincoln is elected the war will go on & we may prepare for the worst for it will be hard times on us then indeed for I think it will be very hard for us to sustain ourselves 

 

I have heard nothing from Edward lately but if we go on up into Arkansas I will try to get to hear from him. Mr Fletcher started home yesterday morning from Walker's Division he had promised to come & se us & take letters for us when he started but he let us know nothing about his going at all I was very much disappointed for I had some books I wanted to have sent by him I would have paid him most any price to have taken them. I received your kind letter of August 12 two or three days ago & was much gratified to learn you were all well. I am sorry your molasses turned out no better but they will do you a little good you said Jess was out on a scout I would like to know whether he will get to stay in the frontier service or not I hope he can. you must write when you move or expect to & how far the place is from Weston & what direction how far from Mr Powels & what direction I would like to know though I believe you have written that once but I have forgotten. tell Cousin Ellen to send my respects to James when she writes well now I expect that I have got boys there that are almost men tell them that they must not quite forget me, that I think about them a heap they must be good boys & love their Mother & one an other, and tell Eddy that his Pa wants him to learn his books & see how much he can learn against I get home. Oh Betty I want to see you all very bad you know you will try & raise our children in their duty to God their fellow man & theirselves. their formation of character depends mostly on you get good books for them to read if you can but keep books of an immoral tendency out of their reach teach them to be honest & upright & above all things let them detest lying & those that do I know we have good children naturally & now they want moral & religious education I will depend on you to do the best you can for them & yourself I am of the opinion that you appropriate too much of your time to hard labor are not the days long enough for you to spend two or three hours a day in reading I think it would be better for you here & hereafter I know it would, but enough on this as it late give my love & respects to Jess Matilda & family & my respects to Mr Powel & Ellen & Betty Shake hands with the children & kiss them for me & my love to you & them this leaves me in very good health from your affectionate Husband                                                                        

Tho W Johnson to M E Johnson

SOURCES