1863

                                                                                    Memphis Tennesee January 14^th

 

            Dear Miriam

                                    I received your kind letter dated the ninth it gives me considerable trouble and anziety on your account I do not see how you are going to get along I do not want you to go to work for anybody I do not want it said that you are aservant for any one I’ll tell you what I think would be best for you to do it would be far better for you to sell what hogs there are and the cattle than for you to go out to work the thought of you laboring and obeying the commands of any person fills my soul with horror. I want you allways to be free and independent and high spirited and have your old pride as in days gone by I hope the day is not far distant when we shall be united never to part while we both live to be parted only by death. The prospect of our army being victorious and crushing out the rebellion looked verry gloomy but we have had another glorious victory at Arkansas post our army conquered the / rebels there and took four thousand seven hundred prisoners it is allways the darkest just before day and I hope the time is not far distant when this unholy rebellion shall be crushed out of existence and peace and prosperity shall bless our nation as it has in time past and gone. George is with his regiment at Lagrange they are coming up the way and are expected here in three or four days the way I got the news was by Alex Arnold he come in to our quarters today he brings sad news of our old friend Jacob Roger he says that he was killed ashort time ago near Antietam we do not know that it is possitively so I trust it is not I have not heard of the death of anyone in the army that has affected me as the death of Jake has it seems like the death of abrother. It is reported that we are going to Columbus Kentucky to guard prisoners that is only twenty miles below Cairo I quite agree with you in the impropriety of your coming to see me in the first place it would be too expensive and then you would have to travel by yourself and lastly this is no place for awoman. I think there is going to trouble and desertions in our regiment on account / of Lincolns proclamation about freeing the slaves there is great dissatisfaction on acct of it there are some in our company that are all the time talking about their not enlisting to spill their blood for the negroes I do not look at it in that way I think that it was agood way to weaken the rebel army they could have their slaves at home working and supporting them and their families while they were in the field fighting against us as it is when the slaves are freed they will have to leave men enough at home to raise provisions to support their army which will greatly weaken the rebellion Those discontented homesick fellows say that the slaves will be sent to Illinois and be allowed the privileges of the whites I dont believe any such stuff You spoke of hearing bad news of Savage and the officers what is it so far I have done nothing that I would be ashamed to tell you of I am willing for my actions to be examined by any one interested I have just been out to the depot to see the 26^th they were not there it snowed last night and is still snowing the snow is about eight inches deep We were / ordered to leave our quarters today and go to the fort that order has been countermanded that suits us as we do not want to stand guard on the breast works. Ben Garret and Saml Balch are sick I think that both of the Balch boys ought to apply for discharges as they cannot stand the service Wm Balch cannot see after night

 

This is the fifteenth of the month I commenced yesterday and had to quit as I was on guard I only stood two hours last night in place of four as the corporal forgot to wake me up and I slept from eleven until morning. We do not expect to get any money until march There has been eight discharged from our company they are Henry Hawley Saml Drake Elijah Gunn Rich Redding James Elligood Arch Trailer Abe Benblossom and W H Miller. they will be back to Bond Co soon There is one in our mess that will be apt to die adrunkard that is John Myers he drinks at every opportunity and is now bloated I had anoble supper last night we went to arrest asaloon / keeper charged with having arow at his saloon the charge was false he invited the Captain DeCamp to take supper with him and us guards we had three fried eggs and two pieces of ham apiece some pickles fried potatoes butter bread butter and coffee we eat it all out clean John Myers Louis Nichols Sam Henry Tip Harris and myself There was adrunk soldier there Decamp told one of us to take him in charge Tip Harris pitched in and stood out side in the rain while we went in and got our supper and got some good cigars to smoke he lost his supper it rather took his vote our suppers cost us nothing Write oftener than you do dont you get enough letters from me now I am out of stamps again and will have to beg one of the mess to put on this please send me some if you can get them Tell me how you are getting along and all about Eddy does he talk any yet Nothing more your affectionate

 

Husband until Death

H. B. Drake M. E. Drake

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