Sunday Dec 7/62

 

Dear wife

I received a letter from you last tuesday I was glad to get it, it is the first real letter I have had from you yet. you say you seteled with Don. I am glad you did so with out eny words. I think he was rather hard in not allowing you for fixing the house, & charging for gethering his share of the corn, when I sold it with the understanding that they were to gether it, but never mind it if he can live with it I can without & there is old Fredenburg if you should see him tel him that if he will pay you for my helping him survey 75cts & 50cts for those oats & one dollar for that pig you will pay him. I am glad to hear that Lillie is a good girl. she has not forgoten what I told her the morning I left home. I told / I am glad she has learned her letters. I am glad that Clarence is getting fat, for he has always been so poor. how I would like to see him & hear him talk I am glad that Joseys little girl is better you say you have not had but one letter since I left this is the fifth I have writen since I left Davenport. you spoke about those things I sent home. if I mistake not I said I would have bot you some flannel but my money was short but I made up my mind that I could send you 5 dollars which I sent by Mr Thurstin in that letter that left me with about $3 dollars we havent got any pay yet & I dont expect we will until the first of January. well if I dont get it I wont spend it. our boys have just returned from their expedition they have been in to mississippi as far as cold water they have cut off prices retreat he was badly cut up, one army in front & one from the side & ours in the rear / I think he will get anough after awhile the boys are in good health except a fiew Ed Young has been very sick for 4 or 5 days he is better today. I am well and harty Henry & Vrooman my self & three others have built a shanty & they have put me in cook they say I can make as good a john cake as they ever eat. all I have to make it of salt salaratis viniger and greace I made one to day about as good as I use to have at home, at least it made me think of home

 

Monday morning, Dec 8 this morning finds us as well as common. Mr Simson wanted I should tell you tha he forgot your letter & wanted you should excuse him for he had not thought of it since. Landon says he got a letter from home & Mrs Landon says she has lost one of her best nabers that you had moved. Mr Vrooman sends his respects to you all I would like to have you go & see his folks. I would like to know if you seteled with Don for fixing that reaper or not. Henry is writing home this morning / Thare is some talk of our going to vixburg in a week or so I dont care how soon for the rebels are scarce here, the sooner we go the sooner we shal get home & that is what we all want. I want you should have John see about paying my taxes for that is something that must be attended to & if John can trade for that note of Balls, I wish he would do so & iwill pay him

 

I dont know as I have much more to write this time, if John has not sent that drum yet tell him to express it to helena, Arkansas & we will get it if it is sent to St Louis we may not get it.

 

Direct your letters to helena, the boys think they will get them sooner.

 

tell Josa that I will try & keep my nose clean & I would like to have her write to me

                                                                                               

Good by to you all

from your husband                 

O Shibly            to Mollie

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