H^d Qts. Detachment 33^rd Wis. Vol. Infy.

Cairo Illinois

May 1^st 1864

 

My Darling Annie:

                                    Your note of the 27^th Apr. was received the 29^th You have probably received one or two letters from me since then as I have written four or five since we came here. Another Sabbath has come and finds me still in the Army. It does seem a little strange how matters have been delayed from time to time in my case. I assure you dear I often feel like complaining bitterly at somebody or something. at other times I feel that I ought to be very thankful to God that even my life is spared and that the life and health of my loved wife, which is dearer to me than any thing else is still precious in the sight of Heaven. For these blessings, my darling wife let us return to God the most sincere gratitude of our hearts, and still patiently wait His own good time to fulfill our long cherished prayers for the time of our separation to end. That happy day will come dear. I have been thinking that the cause of delay may have been / in my papers being overlooked or mislaid during the change in Commanders of the Department as all the papers have to be transferred, new blanks printed, and many other delays and changes to be made. My papers would reach Dept. Hd. Qts. just about in season for these delays. I wrote a letter yesterday to the Asst. Adjutant General of the Department making some inquiries about my matter. It will probably be ten or fifteen days before I hear from him as Hd. Qts. are at Huntsville Alabama. I may hear something of my papers however before that time. We have heard nothing from our boys yet who left us the other day for the Tennessee. There seems to be considerable mystery yet in regard to the Red River Expedition. We undoubtedly met with considerable loss and many reports say with defeat, while Gen. Banks claims a victory. none of the troops have come back yet. Our boys must be suffering for a change of clothing. They left all there knapsacks here or rather at Black River with those who were unable to go, and have had no change of cloths for nearly two months. I am afraid the poor fellows are seeing hard times.

 

            We are enjoying the second pleasant day we have had since we came here / The sun has been shining all the forenoon and evry thing looks a little more cheerful than it has since we got here. A few days of dry weather would be a great blessing to the soldiers about Cairo.

 

            I am aware darling that you must be tired by this time of running about from one place to another with no home of your own. The thought that you are homeless must to a certain extent prevent you from enjoying a visit with your friends, but I do sincerely hope that this will not be the case long.

 

Endeavor to enjoy your visit with Ben and Mother as much as possible darling, for I shall make it a short one if possible. We can now hear from each other evry few days. I shall write often while I have to stay and shall look for a letter from you at least two or three times a week. write me long ones darling and tell me all about evrything.

 

            Hoping that I may not have to spend many more Sabbaths deprived of the society of my loved wife.

                       

I am ever

Most Affectionately Your Husband   George

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