Head quarters 54^th Reg ovi

 

Camp Near Memphis Ten                                                       Aug 29^th 1862

                                                Dear Wife again allow me to write you a few lines. The tap of the Drum awakens me at the dawn of Day and it is a continual Roar of fife and drum for about an Our and is therefore no use for me to Sleep or try to The weather has ben most splendid since I got hear not as hot as when I was on the Boat The nights are cool and pleasant Just Right to sleep I feel beter since I came hear than I did before I started I have not done any duty as yet and that isent all I don’t intend to until I know what I am a going to do. There are great times hear I cant Begin to tell you since General Smith has ben in they have all ben rained up for every thing and the Officers have all Resigned and had all kinds of fusses and since they got hear to Memphis Hell has ben to pay generally I got hear and found that at the last muster I had ben mustered as a deserter as I had suposed the Capt said he hated to do so but it was Colonel Smiths order Well I reported to Colonel smith and he said finally he had nothing to do with me at all and wanted to know why I reported I told him I was ordered to by the secetary of War/

 

The truth was he was stuck and dident know what to do he wanted me to Report for duty but I told him I was not fit for duty and he wanted to know why the hell I came back &c says I I am hear Sir to Report to you as the commander of the 54 Reg as defined in General order No 92 he said finally I could have ben hear two months ago and then I came out and gave him Particular hell in a Gentlemanly way I told him he had Groosly sensured me without any cause whatever and if he was not willing to abide by the disssion of the Medical Board he could take any course he pleased and that I wanted a courtmartial that I had the papers and he began to open his eyes and I turned and went off it wasent long before he sent for a Writen Copy of my Muster and Capt R sent it to him and wrote him it was by his order and they had quite a time but they are so use to times it was no difference But he Halled in his horns and wanted my papers and went of to General Shermans and I have not seen or heard from them since But shall probily know to day I am not at all alarmed I dont guess but know that I am all right and am glad I done Just as I did. But there is no feeling or Sympathy whatever for those who are sick there is no chance for A sick man Whatever only Die or get well General sherman says there is as much chance and Room to bury men hear as there is in Ohio/

 

            But I think it will all come out Right I may have to stay and I do not care a great deal for the weather is geting cool and I think I can stand it and I think from all appearance Our division will stay and Guard this place some time Richardson thinks 6 months but no one can tell they may be ordered tomorrow What do you think about Mrs Richardson Being Drown (he spent about a hundred dollars Going to halena and looking for her he is expecting her now every day I commenced Boarding yesterday noon with the Capt it is a very nice place We have to pay 4 Dollars a week for our meals and it is very cheap for this country Evry thing is very high beats all you ever thought of Many of the officers have Spent every cint and are now in debt they have ben obliged to buy new Suits which have cost them innormous prices and all of that sort of thing Capt. H. has got along well and I will tell you how some time but dont you say a word he is as good as a pie to me there are several others in nearly the same Boat I am only they havnt as many papers as I have So I dont want you to worry at all about any thing as far as I am concerned. I wish I could give you some dicided answers So as you could know what to do But I cannot at present But you go on & Get Ready to go to LeRoy Go to the city Mill store and get your Silk dress and what you want/and get your things made and Bubs things for I intend you shall go whether I come home or not When I got hear I got 11 letters some from you some from one some from another Lots from Springhill and one from Marlin which I will send with this one with the medison which Logee sent and so on one from Allert in the army. I have an Idea I shall hear from you soon and hear how Charles has got along Write me as soon as you know about it Dick Rote me in May to be sure & have Charles send him some money so you can see why he was so fast to have him come home and to come and see him

 

I dont know of any thing more to write only to have you do the best you can which I know you always do I hope something has turned up favourable by this time about a girl But I hope I can get home and not need a girl Dont tell any one a word of Maters let them work out their own salvation and find out all they can and if they ask how I am tell them not as well as when I left dont tell them I think of comeing home for I hardly think I shall myself there are more darkes hear than you ever saw We have a little fellow to Black Boots his hair curls so tight he cannot shut his mouth Tell Bub Pa will come home and pay Pa (there is so much noise I cant think of anything) Bring the Baby something I no he is lonesome Dont have the fence painted more than one coat Just have it primed I will wate till the mail comes and see if I dont get a letter from you

 

[margin:          no mail and I send this good by]

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