St Charles La. May 18^th 1863

 

My Dear Elizebeth

                        As I lay in my bunk last night the thot came into my mind that I had ought to write to you. before I went to sleep I determined to do so and here I am in Aunt Hannahs parlor where it is cool and the musquitoes not very troublesom. I have done my washing 4 shirts 3 pare drawers 2 stockens 1 towel 1 hankercheif I wash regular every monday I expect if I ever get to Connect I shal not want a washer woman but shal do my own I enjoy first rate health and get along very easy about the worst trouble we have is the musquitoes they seam / deturmined to make the most of our time here and eat all they can of us with now and then a flee to take a nip. I shal be glad when the time comes to leave these varmits. we have all the blackberries we want to eat for the picking I never saw berries before we have all kinds of garden vegetables 2 colered wimen to do our coocken have fresh buisket every day and some pies and cake. new oranges are about as large as walnuts with the shuck on figs will soon be ripe flowers there is no end of them in bloom the beautyful magnolia is the queen of all I am cloce by the Mississippa river and se steamers and gun boats every day and go out in a boat any time when I like 

 

how is Grandfather and Grandmother how is all my Uncles and Aunts on the hill and how are my cousins. has Uncle Joseph herd from John and Charles sinc the battle. how do you do this spring and what are you dooing have you ben to school steady duering the winter what progres have you made in you studies are you gouing to school this summer. have you sene Hattie lately and what does she say about Papa when you next meet her give her a kiss for me and tel her she must be a good little lady. have you ben over to Taunton lately when you go over give my love to them all be contented and learn all you can give my love to all enquireing friends and accept some for yourself / write as soon as you get this and write all the news do not put it of a day as I want to get your letter very much I was glad to get the answer to the other letter I wrote you I shal have to close as I have got to take in my clothes and go to camp to 5 oclock roll call

           

Accept these few lines from your trew friend Edwin Benedict

                       

To Elizebeth Norton

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