1862

                                                                                                Memphis Tennesee Dec 25^th

 

Dear Wife

                        I wish you amerry Christmas I wrote you aletter on monday but thought I would write another to you this evening I am well and back at the hospital again the reason of that is that the head surgeon sent adetail to our company for anurse and my name was on the detail I did not want to come but the surgeon said that if I did not come he would report me to Major Genl Hurlbut I spoke to Capt Harris he said I would have to come I then appealed to Col Niles he said they could hold me I thought that it would be better to come without trouble and come the surgeon was verry polite and glad to see me back I have the name of being the best nurse in the hospital. I will stay and discharge my duty the surgeon says that he will see that I have my pay promptly You told / me in your last letter that you was keeping boarders that meets with my hearty approval provided you do not work too hard I want you to take proper care of your self as I expect and hope to come home again then I will have sense enough to stay there with the only woman that I ever truly loved you have allways been anoble true and loving wife to me have discharged every duty and treated me in amore loving manner than I ever deserved I am going to try to get out of the service and if I do I will never leave you again while we both live so help me God All that I ask is that we may be permitted to meet again and live in peace and harmony as we have done thus far and that Eddys and Mas lives may be preserved. Things in war look rather strange to me there is not amore corrupt class of men in the united States than commissioned officers. the way the most / of them spend their time that they are away from their commands is this some in social intercourse with rebel families some in drunkeness and some in houses of ill fame last night there was aregular dance of women of ill fame in the city one of the sargeants went to the house and there he found our Colonel and several captains and lieutenants there are verry few officers that their conduct will bear inspection. Your Father is one of them he lives avirtuous life our Capt Harris does not he gets tight once in awhile and drinks at every opportunity I hope that the regiment will be disbanded and if not sent home put into other regiments. I do not want you to mention what I have said in regard to the officers I promised to write you the truth and will do so. You spoke about your not having enough meat if you can get the hogs / from the farm and have them fatted do so if you should have to buy corn it would be cheaper than buying meat. There has been a Lieutenant that belongs to the 130^th Reg arrested for conveying and selling goods to the enemy what think you ought to be done with him. if you can make any arrangement so that you can leave home and get someone to come with you come and see me sometime next month. When you write me an answer tell me all the news that you are in possession of write long letters and oftener I have only received four letters from you since I have been here Tell Ma that I am fat and saucy I weigh 164 lbs and feel as strong as amule be sure and have yours and Edys daugerrotypes taken and sent as soon as possible tell me all about Edy I would like to see you and him Please send me the Advocate every week Write soon farewell God bless you from your affectionate husband   Henry. B. Drake

 

Miriam. E. Drake

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