1862

                                                                                                Memphis Tenn Dec 29^th

 

Dear Miriam

                        I received your verry kind letter of the 21^st It cheered me up to hear that you were all right at home I am in the hospital yet there is no news of importance here. There has been another Lieut arrested for smuggling goods to the enemy I have not been well for two or three days I have asevere headache some fever and apain in my back I wanted to leave the hospital this morning but the surgeon would not agree to it he wanted me to stay until tomorrow they say they cannot get along without me I am taking medicine if I do not get better by morning I shall leave You must not be uneasy about me taking the smallpox as I have not heard of / any more cases since that nigger has been taken away from here and there is no danger now dont be uneasy about me being sick if I do not get better I will have Louis Nichols to wait on me he would do everything for me that could be done it would be the last thing that I would do if I should have the small pox to write to you and have you to come and wait on me I would not have you exposed to unnecessary danger if I should get dangerously ill I would write to you and have you to come and see me and take me home you could do that for thirty or sixty days I received aletter from Mary Ellen aday or two ago I cannot answer it now but will as soon as I feel able There is arumor here that Richmond has been taken if that is so you may look for aspeedy close of the war our forces have gone to try Vicksburg and Jackson if they are / successful at all those places it will have agreat bearing towards closing the war there is said to be thirteen [overwritten fifty] thousand cavalry belonging to the union army within 8 miles of here. we are all right. they cannot take this place. Tell Ma not to be uneasy about me as I expect to be at home again all right Sol Adcock has been verry sick but is coming out all right You said that John Young had left you that is afair specimen of gratitude that is possesed by the Young family they stay as long as suits their conveniance and then they are off dont go to see the honorable Mr Laman as I think as much of her as ever You said that you wanted achristmas gift from me you shall have it as tomorrow is pay day and I will have my dogtype taken and send you with some money I thought that I would buy awatch it will cost me twenty five dollars I expect to stay in the / hospital until I make that much extra. You must tell me all about old Ed and send those daugerrotypes right away I wish you ahappy new Year but I expect it will be over before you receive this The Matron Mrs Colwell sends some kisses to Eddy take good care of Eddy and yourself as that is the only thing that I ever care about seeing home again for and Ma I suppose I will have to quit as I have run out of writing matter as I have written foolishness enough now You must write often and write long letters as I would never get tired of reading your letters if they were forty miles long

 

Nothing more but remains your affectionate husband until death

                                                                        Henry. B. Drake

 

M. E. Drake

 

                        P. S. I received those postage stamps for which please accept my thanks I shall never desert H. B. D

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