Camp Butler Sep 18

 

Dear Miram

                        I received your kind letter day before yesterday and was exceedingly glad to hear that were all getting along well The money you sent me will be all that I shall want for the present It is likely that we shall draw our uniform and money next week our regiment is not yet organised we expect it will be today we expect to be sworn in to the regiment to day I would / have answered your letter the day I got it but it was to late to write and yesterday morning I was detailed for guard and did not get off until nine oclock this morning. I do not have to drill to day on acct of standing guard last night and yesterday There is twelve thousand men here it takes three hundred men to stand guard 24 hours. I am better satisfied than I at first thought I would be I like our officers and men first rate. The only drawback to my being perfectly contented is abscence from home and from loved ones I left there If you and Eddy and Ma were with me or where I could see you I should be perfectly contented As for what we have to eat / there is no lack in that line we have beef pork homming rice molasses bread and coffee and I think that is all any reasonable man could expect There is afence round our camp made of pine boards put up end ways ten feet high our barracks are one story houses sided up on the outside with pine lumber and sealed up on the inside we have astove in our room and keep us comfortable as there is any need of we have had to sleep on and cover with our blankets and we sleep verry comfortably. There is a few secesh prisoners here yet between 20 and 30 they are not healthy for some of them die once in a while some of them are healthy There has been three or four men shot since I have been here while / attempting to run guard. one deserter has escaped. The health of the company is verry good there is two men of our company in the hospital and two or three that are grumbling around I never had better health in my life. I have never conducted myself in amore respectful manner or more like achristian in my life than I have since I have been in camp I calculate to live so that I shall be prepared to live and fit to die I dont want you to grieve at my abscence while I am gone for you may rest assured that if we meet no more on earth we shall meet in heaven where sickness and sorrow pain and death are felt and shared no more and where there is no par / ting tear shed. I think I shall be at home on furlough in aweek or two your father is getting along well and is liked by the whole company him and Capt Harris says they will do all they can for afurlough for me and they think there is no doubt of me getting one our camp is situated in averry pretty place the grounds are scraped of nicely so there is no grass or dirt it was done by the secession prisoners. We have averry nice brass canon here atwelve pounder it was taken from the rebels we also have two or three howitzers / wagons for carrying cartidges for the howitzers which was taken from the rebels at Pea ridge The canon is fired every morning at six oclock for roll call and six in the evening after which no passes are good to go out of camp or go in Milton Mills is looked upon by the company with contempt as acoward every time the canon is about to be fired he will run in the house and put his fingers in his ears to keep from hearing it dont you think he will make abrave / soldier Tell Ewel to write to me and tell Tapley I will answer his letter in aday or two. When you answer this write all the particulars let me know how old jo Flood is getting along cutting wood. I want you to do as you think best about selling the hogs and cattle I want Jenny and Filley and the colts kept until I come back as I have no doubt about being back again. I should like first rate for you and Ma and all the rest to come and see me but wait until you receive another letter from me. Jordan Ashmead is here in camp he belongs to the 115^th regiment J. W. Wells is also here he is a orderly sergeant instead of captain I also saw Preacher Anderson he has been discharged from / the service and can not go in anymore on acct of disability Loyan Peavis is daily expected here every day

 

kiss Eddy for me and take good care of him I see Ed Salisbury & George Block & several more of the bond County boys here when you answer this tell me how many men are to be drafted from old bond county. I shall have to close I forgot to tell you that old Tom Bond and Fishhauser of carlyle are prisoners here they are kept in the Rebel barracks. When we draw our knapsacks I will send my clothes home in Benrds sachel. Nothing more                                                 Write soon HBD

 

                                                Your affectionate Husband & Co

SOURCES