Friday, April the 10, /63

Youngs Point, La.

 

Dear Mollie I received the letter you sent by Mr Norton yesterday he got all the things through safe. he was here yesterday. he thinks he will start back in a day or two. he is going to try to get a comition to bring sanatory stores for the Iowa soldiers. the goverment furnishes transpertation free of charge. I think Iowa can send her soldiers all the vegitables they want, that is what they want to preserve their health. thousands have died for the want of it. we received those things you sent us they are very nice. that tobaco you sent me is the best I have had since I left Davenport. I let Len have one plug of it. plugs of that size cost from 40 to 50 cents & poor at that. the mos of our boys got something / our company got a barrel of potatoes & onions, some horse radish & 2 barrels of corn meal. you spoke of sending me some paper & envelops. I have plenty of them now, you may send me some stamps if you can they are very scarce here I found four in my last letter & a sheat of paper you did not say who they were for. they were in my letter so I claimed them. I wrote to you in one of my letters that our regiment had gone up the river. we heard from them the other day. they they was at lake providence. no telling where they now are the whole army seems to be on the move, but every thing is kept very still. if our generals dont make a strike between this & the first of June, this war will last another year, but if they take vixburg & port hudson the river will be open / & that will use up the rebs in one month, for it will cut off all of their between suplies between vixburg & richmond. Jef Davis says vixburg must be held at all hasards if they loose that they loose all.

 

you spoke about sending me a box of things by express. that would be of no use, I would never get them & if I should it would cost as much as it would to buy it here.

 

well Mary I have just had my supper & I thought I would tell you what I had, some eggs fried in butter some sausage horse radish some very nice mush, but the milk was lacking & three kinds of cake which was very nice, & it all came from Jones County. our company got a barrel of eggs, some of them were spoiled but we got a dozen each so you see that will make us severel good meals / we had one small box come filled with juggs holding a gallon each. we we could not imagin what was in them. when we came to open them behold it was horse radish in the five juggs & one of the best things that could be sent. Lieut. Landon was down to the this afternoon & he told me that there was 2 bottles of pickels for me in a box which was sent to Don. I cant imagin who sent them to me unless it was Nancy or Josa, but let it be who it may I thank them very kindly. they would not let Landon have them. Don is gone & they say that they wont let them go until he gets back.

 

Sunday the 12. I expected some mail yesterday & so I thought I would not finish my letter. the mail came in, but it was not left here, it went back to the regiment / this is the second mail since they went away. I think they will get back this week. I wanto hear from you. I havent heard a word from that money I sent you. I think it is about that I hear from it. The health of our company is very good at present. Tom Robinson is very low & I think he will die unless he gets better soon. I think I will send this letter with Mr Norton if he goes in a day or two. Mr Green, the drugist from wyoming came down with Norton they are going back together. we think of sending home some of our clothes before long. I am as well as common & may this find you all well is all that I can ask. so good b    for this time

From Oliver

to Mollie

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