No. 3                                                                                                  

Saturday, April 4, /63

Youngs Point, La.

 

Dear Mollie, I received your letter of the 22 & 23, the 2, which I was very glad to get. I was glad to hear that you was all well. I was glad to hear that you you was making a visit over the river. Mr Landon & Vrooman say they are glad you went to see their folks. Mr Norton has not got along yet, if he dont have eny trouble in getting his boxes through I think he will get here next week, but that will be the trouble, he will halfto have a pass from General Grant before he can pass the lines, & then he will have no trouble to get through. The things you sent us will come very exceptable. we have plenty of / everything here now, but we have to pay outrageous prices for it. butter 50cts per lb. eggs 50cts per doz, fish 25cts a pound dried beef 30, chease 30, we have all kinds of fruit in cans from a pint to a quart they are all worth a dollar a can. a soldier can get rid of his money here just as fast as he has a mind to. some of the boys have spent $20 dollars in two weeks their money is geting short, they will be without eny before they know it if they keep on in this way, but it is improving their health very much & I consider that worth more then all the money that this goverment is worth. if the boys could have had money when we first came down here, many a poor felow might have lived which / now lies low in the grave, but they had no money & no care which is the worst of all. I wrote in my last letter that we had orders to march. our regiment has gone & they left our company for camp gard. they have taken 15 days provitions. they have gone up the river I think they will go through the yazoo pass to the rear of Vicksburg. if the expedition proves successful I think they will have a big fight & I think a successful one. our whole army has gone on the expedition. some of it has been gone three weeks. there must be over one hundred thousand soldiers in the expedition. General Grant means to make it win this time & I hope he will, for the weather is geting to be very warm & we are camped / in a very unhealthy place. if we halfto stay her three months longer there will be a greateal of sickness. I wrote in my last letter about sending you $20 by express to Sol Garrison & 20 by a man that went to anamosa he was to express it at Cairo. if it went through you must have it before this time. well Mary I have been washing this morning I think I can wash as well as eny woman when I get at it, but I hate to get at it. Mollie if you get eny letters from Mother I want you should send them to me for I havent heard from her since we left helena. I wrote to Hugh & Mother six weeks ago & have not heard from them yet. I must close for the want of room, From your affectionate husband, O Shibly To Mollie

 

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Mary if you go to Illinois I want you should get your self & children good clothes & I want you should keep money anough so that you will have it if you should need it

 

Tell John & Josa to write to write to me for I like to hear from them. it seams like home to read a letter from them

 

may we ever be as true to each other as we now are is all I ask, Mollie

 

I came very near forgeting to tell you that I am well & harty & may this find you the same

 

This is the sheet you sent me

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