Memphis Tenn            Sept 22^nd 62

 

Dear Wife

            again I seat myself to write you a few lines as it is Monday morning and very pleasant—Yesterday we had a fine day We had a fine Inspection—We went (4) miles to the County fairground where we had grand inspection there was an Italion Rusian officer there at the Review He came to this Country to to Inspect our GunBoats his name is I Count Kismiaske (a beautiful name) He is about as big as Richardson. the Review was a splendid affair Witnessed by thousands of People We got back after dark I stood the march first rate beter than I expected a good deal I am feeling first Rate beter than I have since I was sick accept my sore Moth which is geting beter things move along very well Beter than I expected I dont hear any thing yet from My Maters and shall not before Saturday if I do then and I am satisfied there will Be nothing done and I think I shall stay on and I don’t care I had as live stay as not I think we shall be hear some time and some think we/we will go into Winter Quarters hear inside of Ft. Pickering if we do it will be a very fine Position Some imagin we will have hard fighting hear But I don’t think any such thing for Many of the southern army have large Property and their familes are hear and Just as sure as they attack this Place General Sherman will turn Our Big Siege guns on the town and down will go the town as sure as Shooting So that I think it Poor Polisy for them I would like to hear the news this morning I would give a good deal for the Herald this morning But we get Papers hear all the time I sent you a long letter Saturday and I shall wate till the male come in and then prehaps I shall have more news to write you I am looking for a lot of leter and as I have a couple of novels to Read & My Tackticks to study some I will leave you a while hopeing to hear from you to day or soon and hear you are all well

 

Well My Dear I have left off till the male has come and Brot me the Sad letter which says that Pet is sick O how it struck me/I hope you will not make yourself sick taking Care of Pet But I no you will do all for him yourself O how I wish I was there to take some of the care off from you I am so glad you wrote me if you had not I could not forgiven you I always tell you the worst of evry thing I can bear affliction as well as you can But some times it seems as if my Cup was to ful I am hapy when you and Pet are well I care nothing for myself at all But there is not a man on earth who thinks more of his family than I do and my hopes are all in my Little Pet But I will hope for the best and if he is spared I believe there is a great deal of comfort for us yet If I could only come home when my family were sick But I could not get home if all the state of Ohio could be saved by it unless I deserted I wish I had stayed at home when I was there and done as some other folks did Mrs R says Potter Major Poter was there and tells what he told that I had Paid Smith the Darkey 5 Dollars at Poes for Richardson and credited it to myself he still tells that I owe him has he paid you if not write and tell me they would like some muss(sic) if they could get it and first they no they will have once that they dont want to hear I dont Believe Poter can get a majors Position/

 

Dinner was Just Ready I went and sat down but could not eat My heart came up in my mouth. I came Back to my Quarters alone & gave vent to a flood of tears. And it makes me swet for fear of the next O how I wish I could see him You will think I am Childish But I have doted so much on him—how true are the words that while in life we are in the midst of death—But Cinda it is no use you say you will write tomorrow. I will put my trust in him who giveth and taketh away if God sees fit to take him from us we must Consider it all for the Best if he is spared we will do all we can to train him in the Path of Rectitude—I have not the Slightest fear But what all will Be done that can be done for him Mrs Richardson wrote to him that Bub had ben quite sick But was Beter I will hope for the Best Do write often what is Charles doing that he dont write—I Recd a few lines from Reuben he says they are all sick he has worked himself to death this summer they have him on the list for the draft But he is going to see a Dr in Towanda and if he is drafted and wont let him of he says he will do the best he can But they will let him off of course

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