Camp Kearny

                                                                                                Jefferson Parrish La.

                                                                                                            March 3^d 1863

 

My Own Dear Wife

                                    I received a letter from you on Monday, also one from Mother and one from L. also two Papers from you. I was on guard and Ben brought them to me and I read them while walking my beat. It made the time pass very swiftly and plesently. It is now nine OClock 4 of us are writing in our tent. Mr. Chamberlin is in the Hospital, sick with a relapse You express concern in regard to my health, you need not, it is as good as it ever was, better than it has been for a great while. We have but two or three hours a day but what we / on some duty, so you must excuse me if I do not write as often as in New York. I sent a letter to Frank today. We had meeting out on the Grass Sunday. The singing if nothing else spoke of old times. I was glad of those extracts from Mr. Adams Sermon. I had writen thus far when the Officer of the day came and ordered me to put out our light. We had been writing after Taps had sounded. This morning I got up before light and soacked a lot of Sweet Potatoes. Our squad bought a half a barrel for 1.25. They are splendid. There is to be a Division Drill today up the river some miles and we are going. It is a splendid day. Chaffee is getting better he is in the Hospital taking care of Fales brother of the one that worked at Dea. Peckhams. Our Company is the best in Target Shooting in Reg. they put double the no. of Balls into a / Target of any other Company. We expect to have the skirmishing to do for the Reg on that account Three months from today we expect to start for home. We have just had orders to change the division drill to target practice, and also to be in readiness to start up the River tomorrow morning. If we go we shall lose our Potatoes. The Orange Trees are in blossom now. They look nicely. I expect I shall have to wear a coat in haying next summer to keep warm. Give my respects to Ellen Dunn. Keep up your courage, and faith in the right, If the Union is not saved, Slavery will be killed, which will be a long stride in Human Progress. If I gain nothing else by going to war I shall gain a rich experience, of both head and heart. I pray God that it may prove as good as rich, and that I may be spared to proffit by it / in the future. Pray that it may so be There dearest to enjoy the good things of P. enough for us both, and then we shall have double enjoyment, as I am enjoying myself very much here. Yet it will be a joyous day when we set foot in P. again. May a good God watch over us and keep us from danger, and permit us to live a long time together, in the enjoyment of the blessings of peace, and liberty. I am glad if you are going to get the State Aid I expect we shall be busier the rest of the time than we have been thus far I fear that F. Parminter is going to [?] do the people in P. like the Idea. The river is about a mile wide at this place and one hundred feet deep. It abounds in Fish and Ducks The Negroes bring in Trout weighing two or three pounds apiece. I wish I could send you some. But I must close this now. May it speed safely on its journey, and carry to you true love from the heart of your husband.            G.

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