Grenada Aug 25^th 1864          

 

My dear Cousin

                        Many many long weeks and months have passed since I have had the pleasure of reading a letter from you at least one of my own. I have missed them sadly too, for you always wrote so regularly, and you will know how much pleasure your letters gave me. I verily believe my friends have all forgotten that I am still in the land of the living for I have not heard from most of them for an age. Well Johnnie! do you not congratulate me on my arrival once more in Dixie? I am so delighted to be in the Confedracy once more that I cannot express my joy and to know that Ma is out is the the greatest part of my happiness. / You should have seen how hard I worked with the Yankees to get out without the Oath and to get a way of coming out. I tell you, after Ma consented to come I did not loose much time in trying to get out. We were very fortunate for we got an ambulance and horses and came out without the misery of purjuring our souls. We are out of Yankee lines now, but for how long we cannot say. the Yankees are still in north Miss. Forest's raid into Memphis did not scare them back. Gen Forest gave a [?] yesterday, and I attended, all curiosity to see the "Yankee's bugbear". I was very agreeably disappointed in him. he is a much older looking man than I expected to see. his hair is quite gray. I think him quite a fine looking man. he frightened the Yanks terribly in Memphis Sunday morning, but what advantage it was remains to be seen. 

 

Aunt Lou received a letter from you a few days before I left Brandon. We were all glad to hear from you for we had heard nothing for such a long time. I regretted the death of your friend Lt. Jeter very much. Another brave soldier taken and he is only one among thousands of noble dead. O how sad to look back upon the past few months of suffering and hardships which our army has been compelled to endure. I feel when I think of it that we can never do enough for the noble soldiers of the Confedrate army.

 

Well well Johnnie! You are on staff duty are you? I must confess I was a little surprised when I heard it. You used to be so hard on the staff officers. I did not think Lt. Kendall would ever accept a position in any Gen's staff but circumstances alter cases I presume. / I always had a partiality for the staff officers myself.

I heard a piece of news the other day Lt. that surprised me very much. I was not surprised rather but disappointed to think I did not hear it first from you. I am compelled to believe it for it comes from a very reliable source. I do not ask your confidence, nor—I won't finish the sentence. Leave you to surmise what it is that I have heard. do not suppose it will be very difficult. Ma is in the country or she would send you a message. All send love to you and a large share from your correspondent. Hoping to hear from you soon and with a prayer for your protection from the many dangers by which you are surrounded.

                       

I am as ever your loving cousin

Lou

 

Please excuse all mistakes I have not written a letter for so long a time that I have almost forgotten how to write and it is so very warm too.

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