Memphis Tenn Mar 15^th 1863

 

Dear Miriam

                        This is sunday and I have just returned from preaching our Chaplain W. D. H. Johnson preached the subject of his discourse was the preservation of the health some of his remarks were verry good he has come in to the fort and preaches every sunday and we have prayer every evening when we are out on dress parade we have dress parade every day. The weather has cleared off and we have verry nice bright days I wish you would get Ewel to make amuzzle for that calf that belongs to the Robbins cow Johnson Comer of Pocahontas is here now and is going to come back to bond county and I will send you fifteen dollars I paid that fifteen dollars that I borrowed to come home on and paid Tom Savage that dollar and ninety cents that I owed him. The twenty sixth Ills Reg is out twenty miles from Memphis I would like to go see George if I could before we leave here we / do not yet know where we are going I do not much believe that we will go to Vicksburg I think that it is likely that we will go out to Murfreesboro or into Kentucky anywhere except Vicksburg. We have drawn new guns they are the Enfield Rifled Musket I am well pleased with the exchange my gun shoots first rate I tried it today they never missfire One of company F men died yesterday his name was John Langdon he died from the effects of eating too much he had been sick sometime and was getting well and went to the sutlers and bought acan of oysters some sausage and cakes and pies and eat them all he was in one of the tents with the boys and appeared to be as well as usual and someone went into Capt Colbys tent about twenty minutes after and he was found dead Tell John that as soon as I find out where we are going to I will write to him and let him know about things he will have to come to our regiment as there are some little debts of your Pas that will have / to be settled up. Rolla Stallard has got able to be in camp again but not able for duty he is all right again as friendly as ever Charley Johnson feels bad he does not go around among the boys at all I think he will resign in a short time. I can get to be acorporal and will if you say so it is asmall office and no extra pay John and Lytle McCrackin are here now they are in good health. I would like to write aletter to Ewel and Tapley but am too lazy I weigh one hundred and sixty eight pounds I am as heavy as I ever was in my life I believe asoldiers life will agree with me. I would send you more money than I do but we are going to leave and I think it would be best for me to keep about five dollars. I want you to write to me and let me know who has been conscripted in bond County I see the 114^th Ills and the 93^rd Indiana regiments going down the river on aboat today I guess they are going to Vicksburg I believe that it will be taken without much loss as the papers report that things are working favorably to our cause. I believe this war will be ended by fall /

 

I hope by the time I write to you again there will be something exciting and worthy of notice I consider this averry dull letter dont you Tell Ma I am all right and think of her every day Tell me how Eddy is getting along and all his tricks I expect to be at home with you and him in the course of six months to leave no more Excuse all bad writing and mistakes Nothing more but remain your affectionate husband until death

                                                                        H. B. Drake

                                                M. E. Drake

 

                                                            The place where George is is Collierville

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