Camp Alice Miss June 28, 1863

 

Father and Mother

                                    I write you a few lines this Sunday morning to inform you that I am still enjoying my usual good health and am always ready for dinner call. I closed my letter of 25^th rather abruptly owing to the Colonel being Division Officer of the Day, and he wanted me to take his extra horse and ride around the Picket lines with him. We went a couple of miles into the country where we got some roastenears and peaches, some ripe tomatoes and figs. I see a peach orchard out there of 40 acres and all nice young trees, full of peaches.

 

            Enclosed I send you Gen. McClearnand's letter to Gov. Yates of Illinois; from it you can get some little insight into the way Grant has treated our General and his corps. As McClearnand says we had the advance nearly all the time and have lost more than any other corps. Military jealousy has played thunder in nearly every Army. I hope it will not occur with this army.

 

            Our boys blew up a fort on the 26^th. Capt. Bowman was down to our works and saw it; he says there looked like there was about a half acre blown up and as soon as it went up every gun around the whole line let into them, so they would run out of the fort shells would burst among them, so that we must have killed a great many of them. There was a gun shot off in the 22^nd Ky just now and as I seen a lot of men running there I went over to see what was the matter. two men were fooling with their guns when one of them went off killing one man and wounding three others severely. I would buck and / gagg one of my men quicker for fooling with their guns than I would for knocking a man down for by knocking a man down they don't endanger his life but by fooling with their guns in camp every man's life is in danger!

 

            We were paid two months pay on yesterday. I sent Uncle Fletcher $100.00; I sent $75.00 by express and $25.00 in a letter I wrote him to-day, which makes $275.00 I have sent him. also find enclosed $30.00 which you will mark to my credit which makes $75.00 that you have got. I will keep sending until I get your account up to about $100.00.

 

            Joseph Nosier died last night about about 2 o'clock. Poor Joe! he died in the Division Hospital! There has been something the matter with his breast for sometime. Me and Harrison Dille sat up with him night about for the past week. I expect his folks will take it pretty hard. you had better take this letter over and let them know it. He will be burried this morning in the honors of War and his grave marked! His death was rather unexpected, we did not expect it for some time yet I had laid off to write Mr. Nosier a letter to-day and let him know how he was!

 

            You will oblige me by writing to me immediately on the receipt of this. The Pay Master told me that he thought we would get two months more pay in the course of 8 or 10 days. if we do I shall send some more

 

My love to Aunt Martha                                            

and Uncle Samuel, also                                  

to Grandfather and "Granny"                                      

                      

No more at present       

Samuel P. Strahan 1^st Lieut.           

Com'ding Co's G and K                                                                 

54^th Ind.

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