Sept the           1863

Camp Hopefield Arkansas

 

Dear and beloved Wife with the greatest of pleasure and much respect it is that I am permited once more to right you a fiew lines for your sadisfaction Well Cordelia I expect that we will leave Memphis in a fiew days but we cant tell where we will have to go yet but I think we will go to Corinth we will eather go to Corinth or to Talahatcha and if we go to Talahatcha we will be sent to reinforce / Reinforce Rosencranse But when you right to me Direct your letters to Memphis until you get another letter from me and buy that time I think I can tell you where we are going Well Cordelia I think if we leave Memphis it will bee rather doubtful whether I will get a furlough But I wish I could have got one while we was here Thomas A Bay is at Crab orchard Camp Kentucky he was well the last word that I had from him 

 

Well Cordelia I comenced my letter this four noon and I thought I would not finish it until the mail came in for I was looking for a letter from you but as I was disapointed in getting a letter I thought I would finish my letter this evening

 

Well I have not much to right at present the rest of the boys are all well A fiew knights ago there was a large steam boat set on fier which was burnd up but after the gentleman had fiered it he discovered that it was not the one that he had intended / to fire and he was just in the act of setting another one on fire when he was discovered and caught and I think he will hang

 

Well Cordeliann I must bring my letter to a close buy telling you that I have had the ague But I am well now and I hope when those fiew lines comes to hand they will find you all enjoying the best of health so nothing more but I remain your Dear and Affectionate Husband to my Dear and Beloved Wife and children Hugh Bay to Cordelia A Bay

 

right soon                                                                    

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