Helena Wednes Nov26/62

 

Dear wife, I saw Don last night he gave me a letter which you sent by him I was glad to get it and hear from you. Don says the folks are all well I am glad to hear that Joseys little girl is better. our Capt & Landon & Henry arrived to day we wer all glad to see them Mr Landon brought a letter for me. I could read a letter from you every day. we are encamped about one half mile from the 9 I was over to their camp last sunday they have a fine camping ground much better than ours I saw Owen Farly James Warner & George Bowers. they are all well. we are in the same brigade with the 9^th in the same division which is the 2 Henry is as well as common we had marching orders this morning but they were countermanded / this morning we wont go until until to morrow then only apart of the regiment is going they are to take three days provesion with them they will proberly go down the river

 

November 27 our boys started this morning & some three or four others. the 9 regiment did not go, I think they will go to holler springs, or vicksburg they will proberbly be gone 4 or 5 days Henry did not go he thought he was not able for the trip & was left with some of the other drummers if I had a bass I should have went with them. we have no bass drum we had raised money though to buy a drum but could not get one so they have concluded to buy that one of Henry they want I should play it I would like to have John send it with some of the boys / that are at home now if he can if he cant send it with them he can express it to St Louis & from there it will be sent to the regiment he can lay bill it to the 31 regiment Day befor yesterday ther was 100 teams went out about 15 miles & came in at night loaded with corn they take every thing they can lay their hands on whare we are camped is a large plantation I should judge 100 acres of cotton it is about all gethered now thare is now and then a darky picking for uncle sam he has gethered all the cotton abot here. I was in a cotton gin this morning & seen them at work. it is about the nicest thing I ever saw I will send you some of the cotton right from the / gin & some which I picked myself I want you should save the seeds & plant them next spring as soon as the weather will do, so that I can see it growing when I come home it is warm here to day, so much that the flies are all over my tent I suppose you have cold weather in iowa I dont know as I have much more to write this time

 

write as soon as you get this

 

from your husband, I like had forgotten to tell you that I am well & harty               

O Shibly

 

 

I am glad you setteled with Don but you didnot tell me how you seteld write and tell me all about it

Oliver

to Mollie

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