Bote La Rose

Janurrary 3^d 1863

 

My Esteemed Friend

                                    I have just rec^d your kind favor of 14^th in reply to my letter sent by James Burke. I am extremely glad to hear that Pa is getting so well. I trust in God that he may soon recover entirely. But I fear his disease is lingering and will finally bring him to his grave. Therefore I continually rest uneasy. T'is my daily prayer that the war may soon end and release us thousands that are so much wanted at home. The prospects are undoubtedly in my opinion fairer at this time for a "speedy termination" than I have ever seen before. The peace party in the north is strengthening fast & they are getting bolder daily. At Fredericksburg we whipped them badly killed thousands (Let me change pens) and Burnside was compelled to fall back. They are now advancing on Vicksburg and Davis has said that "with such a man as Joseph Johnston to lead them and with the aid of Heaven we can whip three times their numbers" They are going to make a desperate effort this winter to get possession of the Mississippi. If they fail we 'ave got them. The war must / soon end. But if they succeed in getting the river "we are under for ninty days" the war will last for years yet. But our leaders seem to know the importance of Vicksburg and are using every exertion to defeat the yankees and every one feels confident that it will stand. Your Father left us day before yesterday. Lucas went with him as far as the Vermillion then to hunt a horse of Gestelliore's. Our horses have not arrived yet but we look for them daily. I long for them to get here for we are stationed in a miserable muddy sickly place and when they come we will move immediately Would to God we could take up the line of march tomorrow for Texas for I am desperately tired of this country and would rejoice to set foot on Texas soil once more. The boys in Sibly's Brigade I am told are anxious to get to Louisiana they had better rest easy and be satisfied where they are for I am sure they would soom become tired & disgusted with this country. Concerning our mess affairs we are doing badly we have nothing but old pickled beef a little bacon and corn bread also a little sugar and molasses. We have the very meanest / kind of water to drink, besides we have no water bucket in our mess to carry water and have to use the coffee pot instead we also want a good many other cooking tricks besides. So you see we are in trouble generally but all will be remedied when we get out of this miserable swamp. Excuse this badly written letter for I am writting with a mean pen & in an uncomfortable position. Write to me often Mrs Grier and let me know how Pa is getting on for I feel uneasy about him constantly I will answer every letter promptly. Believe me as ever your true friend

                                                                                               

Benjamin F. Adams

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