In rear of Vicksburg June 21^st 1863

           

Dear Sister

                                    Your letter of June 7^th came to hand last night and found me well as usual and the weather very warm it is warmer here now than I ever knew it to be in Wisconsin and we have not seen the warm weather yet I expect that July will scorch us

 

Well you say you want an explanation on that other letter well I dont know exactly what I wrote but what I meant I can tell you in a few words and it is just this I meant that when Government didn't furnish what I wanted to eat drink and to wear I should buy it if I could find it if it took the last cent I had I didn't come into the Army to make money by going naked and hungry as some / will for you know very well that I could earn more money at home and be less exposed to every hardship and danger than I can in the Army I was in some danger yesterday and dont know how soon I may be in the same danger again perhaps in five minutes and perhaps not in a year there was four large shells burst right over Head Quarters and the pieces flew in every direction they made a ridle of one tent but when we heard them coming we would take to the trees now I would like to see a pile of money big enough to hire me to stand here and let shells burst over my head it would be a larger pile than I ever expect to see And as for any ones writing to me that you have said any thing about my not saving money or sending it to any one else they never have written any such thing / what money I send any where or what I think I can spare I shall send home but I shall keep some by me and when I have such a corespondent as you speak of I will let you know who it is you must think that I put but little confidence in my Parents by what you wrote now Adeline if you wish to have me write to you dont never write any thing more like it for I dont like such talk I never heard that any one was trying to stop my writing to who I please if they are trying to do that they will find it a damned hard job the hardest that they ever undertook Well the Regiment is here and so am I we were some eight days on the boat we are camped in a very pleasant place but the water is not very good there is plenty of fruit here appels peaches pears figs & blackberrys I saw George King a day or to since he was well and so was all the rest of the Whitewater boys I am now taking care of a horse / a better job than the other the General has no ambulance but will probaly get one when he leaves here he dont need one here Vicksburg is surrounded but I think we will have to stay here some time to starve them out and to storm their works would be to slaughter one half of our men but the prisoners that we have taken say that if we will wait till July the Rebels will give up on account of the hot weather I got a letter from Aunt Sabrina last night saying that Mary ward was dead she died of quick consumption the rest of the folks were all well

 

Well I have no more to write so I will bid you good bye hoping this will find you all well

 

My love to all my Friends                                         

Freeman T Knowlton

 

Direct to          Freeman T Knowlton

Major Gen Herrons Head Quarters

In rear of Vicksburg

via Cairo Illinois

 

Well Ada I haven't room here to write to you so I will write to you next time but be a good girl and help Mother       

My love to you Good Bye           

Freeman T Knowlton

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