No 18)

St Charles La. May 6^th 1863

 

My Dear Mary

                        As the mail leaves here today I must try and write a few lines to you I beleive I am so cross thiss morning it will impocable for me to write any thing decent or interesting I suppose you will think I am foolish prehaps I am but I cannot or donot helpit I was on guard from 8 to 10 and from 2 to 6 thiss morning and it alwase makes me out of patiance to be up in the night air espetialy if I am out of the parlor and down in Louisiany swamps guarding a tormented old railroad with thousands of musquitoes whisling about / my head it sounds like a swarm of bees and a man on guard is a big thing as he cant hear as far as I could throw an aligator by the tail but thank fortune I have stood them a pull so far and hope I shal be able to stand it a few weeks longer I am well and hope I may be spared in health and come home to you strong and sound as I am today but I hope I shal be better natured you mite have to let me have my regular sleep If any man says any thing to me about gouing on guard if I ever get to Connet he will be sorry he ever saw his mother I will bet you will be wiling to let me sleep after I have ben home one night I tel you I am geting strong and want to come home very much and be free once more / I have nothing of importance to write I shal send you papers that have all the news in and gloryous news it is to and I hope it may continue. last week I went out forageing and a man gave me a lot of new potatoes and onions and 5 eggs we bot 2 chickens about the sise of the ones we sell for 25 cts we had to pay 50 cts each and we had a grand stew the next morning we had ham and eggs had to pay 50 cts a dozen and I think it is rather dear eating and I think you had better eat what eggs you want and I will wait til I get home and then take mine I received a letter from Em dated March 24 I got it May 1 and I shal answer it by thiss male a heavy mail has gone up and I hope we shal get them today then I will try and write you a long letter. I have got me a net to put over my cap nights to keep the nusquitoes of and I make out very well only for the s[?] /

 

I send you 3 papers with a greatdeal of news I mus close as the Lieut has caled for the mail kiss Hattie for me and take good care of yourself give my respects to all and accept lots of love from Ed write often and rember me your ever devoted Edwin

 

To my dear Wife M E Benedict

 

PS I shal send a few cotton seed. good by all I have just received a line from Oscar he has ben sick but is better now

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