Memphis Tennessee January 4^th 1863

 

            Dear Miriam

                                    I am improving rapidly now I have been up all day and walking round town this afternoon I think I shall be able for guard in a day or two then I will get enough of that as the boys have to stand guard every other day. You wanted me to write to you and let you know if there was any likelihood of there being an attack made on this place there is sometimes some talk of an attack but there is no probability of their trying to take this place as they have no force near here that they could do anything with as it would take agood many men to take the place with the fort then there are nearly always gun boats lying here I promised to describe the navy yard there is nothing there that needs description it is simply aline of boats about amile long all kinds of boats there are agreat many prisoners in this prison some of them are our own soldiers some are secessionists and some citizens for disorderly conduct. this is averry disagreeable place to live as you hear all kinds of language all the time day and night and see men bucked and gaged that is they tie their feet together their hands together and pass their hands below their knees and over their knees and then run astick through so they cannot get up nor lie down comfortably they then take abayonet and put it in their mouths crosswise and tie it their fast by a string running from one end / of the head to the other and then they leave them alone in their glory I was down at Capt  Colbys company this afternoon while I was there Lyman Fuller came in puffing and blowing carrying in his handkerchief aroll of butter that he had just stolen off the warf another one their company stole 56 lbs at one time. Now I am going to tell you asecret dont talk any more about Eddys being named after Ed Wise I will tell you my reason for saying so it is this Lieut E B Wise the cause of his being discharged was that he got hold of an old whore and got the clapp say nothing about it Geroge wrote it to your father I have written so often that I have allmost exhausted every topic upon which I have written so far I wrote to you that Vicksburg was taken we are not yet certain although we think our men will take it and had taken the most important parts when we heard from there there has been desperate fighting done there There are two men here in prison that offer four hundred and fifty dollars to be let out of prison I have no doubt but they will be slipped out some way for their money. About the hogs and stock and every thing else you must be as stubborn as amule and let no person get the advantage of you and cheat you out of any of it. Dont forget to send me the Greenville Advocate I will send you some money as soon as I draw if we ever get any Nothing more Give my respects to all my friends tell them to write to me your affectionate husband until death H. B. Drake M. E. Drake

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