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from Joe to Hee James

 

June 21 1800 & froze to death

How are you? (as George [faded] says) Well fellow how do you like that church? I am getting better a little and of course it makes me feel in better spirits.

This is dated 1800 & froze to death it should be: & melted to grease. Ho! Ho! Old feller; who comes ter. You had better skedaddle mit out you say, Buna Vistey.

I'd like to know how "Porky" is getting along, or did you kill him last fall. I forget. Let me see tat liquorice root tey say its goot for te cold I's going to ask you about old One, but I remember now & he absconded before I left home. I have not laid my leg over a horse, me nor my husband, since I last mounted Ellen. Jimmie how would you like to have shell like a cream crock, digging into the ground all round you? Imagine what a "dust it would kick up" and then add rifle bullets by the thousand / and you will have an idea of the fight of June 1^st & 2^d and also if you can think of the thickest place in such a storm and you may think the 57^th in there.

 

I have met the enemy three times now viz. at Yorktown, Williamsburg and Fair Oaks, and I'd like to meet them once more and march triumphantly into Richmond. I think that if this place was taken, Jef and his government must go up a stump.

 

            You will be quite lonely now that Lizzie and I are both absent but keep up heart. It is a long lane which has no turn in it

 

            Do you ever hear anything of the "Jack Ass"? I think it probable he will let you alone now.

 

Every evening we can hear the rebels beating the drum and playing Dixie and one of our boys told me that out at the trenches a fine view can be had of Richmond by climbing a tree / and taking a glass even the people can be seen in the streets. I should like to be able to go out and climb said tree, but it is a dangerous experiment; for the secesh can send a few bullets whistling in rather close proximity to a person's head when up "taking a peep"

 

How you are going to get through the harvest is more than I can see, but there is one thing about it: you must not work too hard. What is the use of a man killing himself, to keep himself? Perhaps you will say, apply that to yourself. O no! I am not killing myself to keep myself. If I be killed it will be for my country—for you and (I am sorry to say) for such secesh as Jno Albin & others of the same stamp.

 

When you write let me know how the redoubtable "Jess^e Raghouser" is. I hear he is a regular chaperone out there. How does he & Miss Hardy get along? or does he wait on her? I might ask 100 more questions but when you write let me / know all the news, both sublime & ridiculous. Bonaparte says "there is but one step between the two

 

            Joe M^c— is making a fuss. I understand, everywhere, because I ventured to make a familiar joke with him. He consequently has done with my correspondence. I'd like you to send me a mess of tar water & lether cakes!!! Well anyhow you might send me a nice apple-pie in your next letter. A mess of buckwheat cakes [?] with honey would go bully to a fellow who has been living on [?] crackers for the last 9 months. In your last you omitted to punctuate at the close of your letter, and consequently, signed yourself thus: "No more your brother". What family have you got into if you aint my brother Eh?

 

You say you dont go to singing. You go to bed. now when a young man denys being out at night I begin to suspect him of "tosing" the "ghals". You are about the age to begin. It is doubtful if you can read this for it is so poorly written but if you cant it wont be much loss.                             

 

I add not.         J. D. Baker

 

[interior margin]

 

After you read this sit down and write me a long funny letter it will be an exercise for you Jimmie

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