Houston Texas, September 21^st/65

                       

Dear [faded]

            haveing a little [faded] time this evening and know of no better use I can put the time to than by penning you a few lines to let you know of my whare abouts I arrived here from New Orleans last evening had a very rough passage from N. O. to Galvaston but got thare all safe with my goods after beeing out (4) four days.

 

The Yelow feever has broken out in Galvaston as yet thare are but a few cases of it but enough God knows. Thare is not eny reported in this plaice or New Orleans when I left

 

I received a letter from you while I was in N.O. and answerd the same with a few lines for whitch you will forgive me for as I had the blues that day and your letter was so short and it beeing the second one only that I had got since I come down this Country I began to think you had forgoten me. so I made up my mind I would not worry untill I got a good long letter from some of you. how is Charles has not writen me a letter since I left him in Washington last May so you see I thought it kind of strange but I guess I have lectuerd enough on this subject so I will stop (one word more) now that you have got Caroline at home some of you must write evry week & good long letters 

 

I am sorry to hear Charles is has been sick I am affraid he works to hard or goes [faded] to often I dont know witch.

 

I am glad to hear you geting along so finely with your new barn. I will send you some money before long as the Pay Master is expected here eney day to pay the troops then I am in hopes I shall not be so hard up after that untill then I cannot send you eny for I owe a bill of one thousand $1000.00 Dollars in New Orleans and I must pay that first. And to pay it with I have three thousand Dollars $3000.00 worth of goods here and shall take them up to Hdqrs tomorrow so if they get pay paid I will soon make enough to square accounts with the world (or all the men I owe in it.) it is so far to ship goods one has to take a pirritty big stock to do enything so after I get that straight if you want I will send you some [faded]

 

how much [faded] get this year. when you write again let me know all of the particulars just how you are geting a long the same as you useto when I first left home. how big is your barn and does it set side or end to the road. tell Frankey he must look out and have a good plaice made for sheep as I shall have to come in for half of them I guess. (ask him if he will not sell or give me a half interst in the stock business) 

 

            what is (Tide) Ivory doing and is a pirritty good boy [faded]

 

            how I would like to drop in and see you this morning I guess Mother would look more surprized than she did when I come in before breckfast well my light is most out so I will have to put this away for to night.

                       

good night                   Jim

                       

Hempstead, Texas Sept. 25^th/65

                        You will see by this I have got home and have my goods here all wright.

 

the Paymaster came last night and will pay the troops off tommor tomorrow.

 

I found 7 seven letters here for me when I got home the outher day 2 from home one from Caroline and I will answer it as soon as I get time

 

I rec^d a letter from Mr. Stines. he is all out of buisness and want to come out here to Texas. I wrote him to come and bring a big lot of Green Backs or he might always have to remain here if he could not get money enough a head to get home after once they get settled down in this contry and a man that will not take a punkin in makeing change is not alowd to live in the county. But enough of this.

 

I wish you could just drop in and see Sutlers store this morning I tell you it is gay I have a tent 18 feet by 22 with 3 men (Soldiers) for / guards and a big dog one of the most faithfull and watchfull dogs I ever see. he is so ugly & cross we have to keep him tied all the time or he would not let a [faded] come near the tent Jack Parlin [faded] [?]egan Maine and Hen Bacon and your humble servant run a mess  of our own with a big Negro to cook. so you see we are indipendant of the rest of the world world and have our fun & good times all by our selves but enough of this nonsense and I will close write soon

                       

Yours in haste

James Coombs

 

Gen Custer Hd qrs Hempstead Texas

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