July the 14^th A D 1863

Fourt Pickering.

Memphis Tennessee

 

Dear and Beloved Wife

with the greatest of pleasure and the utmost respect it is that I am permitted to enjoy the present oportunity of righting you a fiew lines to inform you that I am well with the exception of the piles and I hope and trust when those fiew lines comes to hand they will find you all enjoying the best of health I received your much welcomed letter about fifteen minutes ago and was very glad to hear from you but you can not imagin the feelings it gave me when I lerned that little Marey Emma was sick / but I hope she is better buy this time it seemes hard to bee so far from home and to hear that aney of you are sick you can not imagin how glad I would feel to see you all once more but I think it wont be long until this rebellion must come to a close the paper that I sent you has some very interesting news in it and I am very glad that the rebels are invading indiana for they will just get what they want up their their armeys are geting cut up in every direction and it is / reported here this evening that our men has got Port Hudson and if they have the mississippi river is open

 

Well this is the 15^th and this morning still finds me enjoying good health you stated in your letter that M^r Wells and his lady was mad at you for the reason that you had got some new dresses well I would just tell them to buzz your stern end for you can live without aney of their asistance

 

Well I want you to right as soon as this comes to hand and let me no how you are all geting along and let / me no what doctor is tending on the baby well I have not much to right at present So I will bring my letter to a close so nothing more at present but I remain your Beloved Companion to

My Beloved Wife

and Dear Children

Hugh Bay to

Cordelia Ann Bay

 

Give my best respects to all the Father and Mother and all the rest

                                                                                   

right soon

 

When this you see remember me

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