Morganzia Bend         June the 19^th/64

 

                        Miss Hutchins.                        your letter dated May 21^st was received with pleasure yesterday. I had looked for it in every mail I that has come to the Reg^t in three weeks. I was sorry to hear of Hattie’s misfortune. it seems to bad to see one so young left A widow and alone in this unfriendly world. but the hand of providence fallith on all of us with justice and we had not ought to complain.

It is A verry beautiful morning and every thing looks gay. we are now in the best of spirits & enjoying good health. this morning we are agoing to get four months pay and I expect we will have A jolly time before night. undoubtedly you have/heard all conserning the campaign in Western La. we met with A repulse at Manssfield 40 miles south of Swevespoint and retreated. we had 4 pretty hard fights I was in them and tried to do good exicution with my rifle. the killed and wounded on the Rebs side was double that of ours. I will not enter into A farther detail At this time but if I live and should be so happy as to meet you after this war is over I will have A long story to tell you if you wish to hear it.

 

Miss Hutchins I am sorry to have to disapoint you again in not sending my picture to you. (I have thought some time you would think I never intended to send it at all but do not acuse me of this you wont be so hard hearted as that will you). I would be willing to send it to you and more than that I wish I could send the orriginal but it is imposible to send eather at presant. if you will excuse me this time and wait patiently untill/circumstance will permit me to get it taken perhaps you are not aware of the posission and whearabouts of our Armey. I do not know as this place is noted down on the Atlas or not we are 35 miles south of the mouth of Red River and not scarcely A house to be seen and no posible chance for any one to get A pass to go to Baton Rouge or New Orleans. and no one has been here to take pictures yet. I heard some of the officers saying that thare was an artist comeing up here this week if he comes I will get my picture and send it to you as soon as posible if not be content for the presant and believe me when I say I will improve the first chance I have and will lose no time in forwarding it to you. you will be tired reading so many excuses in this sheet I will say no more. the knows news now is that we are agoing up the river to Memphis I hope so as it is so much colder thare than it is here. do not neglect writeing on account of not receiveing my picture in this. but write as soon as you receive this and write often with the asurance that your kind letters are received with pleasure at all times. Good By

oblige your humble corispondant by writeing

often                                                                            Stephen A. Matthews

 

P.S. you said you had not received a letter from me in a long time. I will say that one letter I wrote you the first of may was captured By the Rebs. we was at Alexandria Building a Dam across Red River to get our gun boats over the falls and we was engaged the Rebs got around in our rear and captured one gun boat & two transports and a large mail comeing up and one going down. Adue for the presant I hope not forever, Stephen

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