April 3^rd 1862

 

                        My dear Dear Wife While I was laying asleep a messenger came and awoke me and handed me the male for our company and among them I found 2 for Capt Richardson one from Lt Potter and 2 for myself but one was of little use and I laid it one side until I had carefully parused which is of more interest to me than all the Rest I commenced a letter to you on the morning of April first Before day But I had nothing of importance to write and So I will Burn that and write you another—Well I believe the last letter I wrote you I was on the Boat drawing Rations for the Regiment Well I came home and dealt them out to the intire satisfaction of all they say they had beter rations and more of them than they have ever had before since they left camp denison Since then I have had nothing to do untill last evening when about dark the long Roll commenced Beating (I dont know as you know what the long Roll is but if you had seen it you would soon learn) for when that Beats every Soldier Jumps to his feet—Well in five minutes all that were able to March (unless it was some couards were in line of March ordered to have one days Rations in haversack. Well I was not obliged to go and in fact I am obliged to stay with my commissary stores unless the Colonel permits I went and asked him to go and he said yess for he never denies me any thing and I got Ready changed put on my old clothes filled my Canteen with vinegar Water and Molasses My haversack with hardbread and we started the Moon was up a little ways whiched heped us very much a more magnifficent night I never saw Our course was princepally through the woods throug creeks Mudholes Gulles occasionally crossing Cotton fields and passing the Enemies houses we was saluted by the Barking of the faithful watch dog who in this country is constantly on his duty/and still we moved on noislessly came to a thick swamp and woods which no one but a soldier could get through We then came to a stream of water 2 or 3 feet deep (at least it was up to my crotch Well I peeled off my shoes and in we waded and when I came out the mud stuck to my feet But Being in a hurry I pulled on my stockings sand Gravil and all (But this is not the Joke) Capt you know I told you had a lame knee and when there was a prospect of a fight he was Bound to go and the Colonel ordered him a Mule to Ride Well we came to the stream and the Banks being steep and slipery and the night dark down went the Mule and in went the Captain and the Mule fell on him and held him fast. if the Mule had strugled he would had Cap all under He holered for godsake to pull the Mule off and after a while Got out Mule and all with one Blanket minus his Haversack Wet and Beautifully covered with mud When he once tooke the company and told us his adventures Potter & I laughed as long as we dare The Colonel says Capt undertook to carry the Mule across a log and fell in (all I have to say is if the Saviour had such a time Rideing into Jerusalem on a Jackass as Capt did to war on a mule he would take a horse next time Well on we went to the place of our destination which was about 8 miles but seemed 25 We got there at 3 oclock formed in line of Battle to Receive a charge of Cavelry We had heard 2 hundred Cavelry had camped out there and we went one way to cut off the Retreat while our cavelry ingaged them from another way We wated all night Ready and they did not come We saw their camp fires and in the morning we started after them and came in sight of them Just as they were leaving camp But we being on foot and they on Horseback they soon made to much distance Between us for any ingagement and we Proceededly cautiously home the weather seems as warm as any July day you ever saw and it seemed as if I should melt Before I came in and my feet is as sore as you please I dont think while I am commissary I will do that again for I intend to take care of my health and all such exposure is very Bad in hot weather My hand is as white and soft as any womans But my face is Rather Burned I cant ware Gloves on my face I feel very well only it is so hot What will it be by and By We were in Mississippi this morning/and speaking of this Expedition it is considered a magnificent thing and a thing that will be Recordid in history yesterday was the Grand Review of the Ohio troops and we were complimented as one of the finest Regt in the Service and last night a single Regt seperated out to make a Reconisence so near the enemy in such large force We occupy the extreme left flank being the post of honor we Marched in Stillness of night within 1 and a half miles of the enemies foe and within 7 miles of Corrinth There they are said to have a force of 150 thousand We heard their drums beat this morning but we are all safe and I will Leave the subject and go to Bed for it is evening and I am very tiard for I have not Shut my eyes to sleep in 24 hours and in the morning we will talk up private matters So good night Kiss to you & Pet

 

            Well Cinda it is morning and I will finish answering your letter I am glad you Got the money safe But I did not expect you would pay Poe but 50 dollars but still I dont think but what if you need more at any time he will let you have it I wanted you to be sure and keep anough for your own use as for the fortuneteller I think he is half Right I think I stand as good a chance for promotion as any Man in the Regiment I have learned a good deal of the drill But Shall continue to learn            You say you got a letter from Dick and Anthul I am glad you got it I wish I could meet that Sam Numan in the Battle field I could pay my debt I owe him

 

You speak of Going to LeRoy I like your Idea very much I have writen to you in one letter in Refference to it But do not know as you have Recd it yet I have writen one in 2 or 3 day all the time I think you would take a good deal more comfort to go out there and stay this Summer for I have no Idea that I shall be home before fall if I am then I can get home as soon as any one can but there is a special order against all commanders of Regt Giveing furloughs to any one and we are a Good ways of and shall soon be farther We shall still press on South/But if you go out there I want you to Hire your board have a good Room and have a Girl to help you Bub is Geting so heavy it is to much for you to take care of him and I want you to be careful of your health I know we are makeing anough to live and take comfort and if you conclude to Go before I Get my pay you can Borrow some money of some one We may Be payed soon and we may not in 2 or 3 months but I think we shall inside of a month and then I think I shall send home Certainly 3 hundred dollars you will have to pay Fishes 50 and Gehr 50 if he calls for it or you have a chance it only cost me about 12 or 14 dollars for my Share of my servant and liveing a month so you see I will make at least 90 dollars a month and any thing you want for you or pets comfort I want you to have I am very careful of my clothes and dont ware out 1/2 I did of course                     I am Sorry the trunk dont come but I think there is no doubt it is there by this time I hope so   Richardson says you Scared his wife most to death by telling her he was left on the boat he came on and all there was he was with the other companies You ought to be careful and not scare her for she may Lose a Child by it I wish she would act as she ought to       But I hope you wont be foolish anough to cry again about anything she says I think you have as much Reason to be larg as any of them have and we can save dollars where they can quarters Potter and Richardson Spends more for whisky than all my little expences togather they have to pay a dollar a a pint for Whiskey forty Rod whiskey at that But it makes no odds to me you see I dont feel as I did last Winter Befor I got my Commition I am Just as good as any of them But My lord I often think what I would have done to went in any thing but with a commition I would sooner die but there is no distinction of any act with officers But say nothing about it to any one it will all be Right Payday we will see then I owe the Leters 5.94 cts and I will let this owe        G

 

[top margin:    I think if you Go to LeRoy you will go to Springhill I shall Write to Charles to day and tell him I think you will go to LeRoy and if he will come after you you will make them a visit I would write to them]

 

[side margin:   Write often do as you think best and take all the comfort you can Good By this time Kiss the pet         GWB]

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