I received the papers.

 

Memphis, Tenn. July 5, 1863.

 

Dear Mother:

                        Your letter of June 26 is just received. I will immediately write a few lines in return.

 

            I presume that before this you have each received a copy of my photographs. I had them taken because I feared that there would be no time after receiving money from home. I am sorry that I did not specify more particularly in my letter to Hiram how I intended to have them paid for. I, of course, intended that my own money should be sent. I am sorry to learn of your shortness of money. Why did not you retain that $50 for the house, as I wished you to? I would willingly have lent Hiram $50 or $75 if I had known that he needed it. Of course it is too late now, / as before this reaches you he will be on the way to California. But I will tell you once for all what I do want you to do about my money in Mr. Ewart's hands. It is this. Whenever you are in need of money take it. I do not want you to scrimp yourself in the least to lay aside money for me which I may never need. I have a sound head and strong hands, and can work my way along as I have done hitherto, should God spare my life to return home and finish my Collegiate course. I am in earnest about this, and I shall be displeased unless you take it whenever it is needed. Whenever I send home money in the future, I want you to retain it all for your own use and for procuring whatever I may happen to need. Now that Hiram is gone, I know that there will not be one cent to spare. I / will try to be as economical as possible here, although I cannot well get along without some money.

 

            Yesterday was an exceedingly quiet day for us. There was to be a celebration down town, and a speech by Gen. Veatch, but in the morning we received strict orders to remain in camp ready to fall in at a moment's notice, as an attack was apprehended. The Gen. did not speak. Of course the rebs. didn't come. I suppose they thought they would find us all scattered, thus giving them a fine chance for a raid, but found that they were mistaken and concluded not to come in.

 

            The day passed off exceedingly quietly, there being no firing, except the natural salute at noon, and a little drunken row at night between a lot of batterymen and the provost guards. They had a regular / pitched battle, with guns and revolvers, there being some thirty or forty shots fired. Only one man, however was wounded. Their last skirmish was just beside our camp, and our camp guards finally quelled the disturbance, arresting three or four. It was a good thing on the whole that we were kept in camp so close as otherwise probably very many would have been drunk. Liquor is the bane of the army. I have seen its effects in a manner here that has set me utterly against it. I fight a good many temperance battles. I find the "moderate" drinkers a very hard class to contend with. They can see no danger. Two or three young men in our company are on the "moderate" drinking road to ruin. They are however utterly unconscious of any danger to themselves. We have pretty high times sometimes. When half or two thirds a company is drunk, it is not especially conducive to good order. Moreover when company and regimental officers are sometimes as bad as the men, you may imagine the rest. Although liquor is always to be had in the city, yet of course, it is very sendom that many have access to it at a time. I never shall forget the time we had when we first came here; but matters are quieted down very much now.

 

            I am on guard to-day, or I should be in the city at church.

                       

Write often to

Your Son

 

I will send my picture to Maxwell. You need have more taken.

 

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We shall probably receive two months pay before a great while.

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