Camp near Camden Oct 30^th /64

 

Dearly beloved wife I received your letter of the 16^th inst some two or three days ago & read it with much satisfaction & pleasure I ought to have answered it sooner but I have been sick for nearly a week I was first taken with colic slightly at first in the evening along about day I begin to think I couldnt live much longer but along after day I began to get easier but have not got well yet but I am geting better I have some fever evry day & our Doctors have run about out of quinine and are using Boneset in its place I never took any of it until to day & hope I will not have to take any more but the Lord only knows I am able to knock round through camp wait on myself & do my own cooking but a sick man fairs badly for something fit to eat it is very hard to get any thing out of the country to eat well as to news what we hear is very flattering the most of which you will have heard before this comes to it came in yesterday that Beaureguard had got possession of Dalton if so he must have Sherman in a tight place sure enough & also that Gen. Price had created a great fracus in Mo & that Steele had left Little Rock in the direction of Ft Smith they have built several forts around here it is generally thought that we will not stay here much longer but I have but little idea where we will go 

 

There the drum is beating for church meeting but my medicine is working so I do not feel like going they have had some fine meetings here in the last few nights a good many seeking religion I am sorry I was not able to attend them you wrote in your last to know about Bro Thompson his name is Richard Thompson & had been a Circuit rider Texas for some 12 or 13 year before the war began Since then he has been across the river the mostly until he became Chaplain to the 17^th he is now absent on sick furlough having exhausted himself in the cause of his King he has no particular home in texas that I know of he has a wife but I dont know where she is. we expect to have a new preacher with us soon a Brother of the chaplain of our Regt Brother Neele he is a pretty fair speaker very earnest in what he says & I trust a man of God

 

well from what wrote you are now living by yourself no you said a while back that Ellen or Betty would stay with you & one of the boys would stay well you will be lonesome awhile but I believe you will enjoy yourself better than when you were crowded so I think I could. tell the boys that stay with you that they must be good boys you did not tell me how much wheat Jess sowed. I have written twice to you about my clothing which all came in good order. but I have been unfortunate with one of my shirts having got a hole burned in it & I wish if you have to send me a scrap like it about 3 in. square to mend it with there is to be a general inspection to morrow I will get shet of that I hope we had a heavy rain last night but pretty to day 

 

            Well I would like to talk to you about coming home but but it would only fret you as there is no chance only on sick furloughs & they are stringent about them Oh Betty if I only set down by your fire to night & rest my weary head on your pillow & hear you tell over your trials & aventures since I have been gone & see my sweet little boys scampering & prattling around it would would be one of the happiest hours of my life Oh God I pray for the time but how long will it yet be Oh God grant to haste the time when evry soldier may return to his loved ones & wars may be no more

 

            I am sorry to learn that you are out of cards but would be glad that you could make out without them as I know that it injurious to you I know that you to work very hard & to toil day & night almost but I hope it will not continue that way long sometimes I think we will have peace soon then again it looks very desponding indeed well give my kindest respects to enquiring friends & my love & affection to yourself & our love ones

                                               

your Devoted Husband

Tho. W. Johnson

 

            M. E. Johnson

 

[overleaf]

 

                                                Mrs Martha E. Johnson

                                                Weston Collin

                                                County Texas

 

From TWJohnson

Co I 31^st T.D.C.

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