Edwards Depot Mch 8^th 1863

 

My Dear Wife

            I have neither heard from you or written to you since we left Jackson, having had no opportunity of sending a letter & not knowing when we would leave this place. We are now ordered to Grand Gulph on the Miss River about fifty (or Sixty) miles from here. we have to take it a foot, as there is no other way to get there. I expect we will fare very well there in getting something to eat. it has been hard work to get meat here, though we have managed so as not to get out. we have to pay four bits a pound for bacon & very hard to find at any price. we get a little flour occasionally. I fear mail arrangements will be poor to our new point of destination. you will hereafter direct your letters to Grand / Gulph. I know you are anxious to hear from me, though I will not mail this letter until we are about starting. I shall look for a long one from you when Middleton comes in & also my boots. I have had no letter from bro Jo since I saw you. I have written to him but dont know exactly where he is. I am at a great loss to know what to do about sending Henry & Sam home. I think I shall wait until sometime in May unless the war shall close sooner, which I still think or hope it will do. It is true the prospects of a speedy peace are a little gloomy at present, though there are some good indications & I hope soon to be with you at home. You ask me to resign: I do not think I ought & if I were, there is no probability that it would be accepted. So dont calculate on my trying it. As I have no such idea. We are near enough Vicksburg to hear the big guns every few days. I don’t know what they are / shooting at. I think it likely there will never be a fight there. in fact I think fighting is well nigh over, not withstanding Lincoln talks of calling out another million or two of men. I went out seven miles the other day to see a cousin (D^r Matthew Wall) he has changed considerably since I saw him before. he has been confined to his room the greater part of the time for the last six years. He & his wife seemed very glad to see me. Asked me to send for you & let you stay with them. Also to send for provisions &c &c. They have only one child (a daughter) She was absent at school. I am sorry I will not have an opportunity visiting them again. With the above exception I have not visited any family since I saw you It is not that I love camp so well, but I have no where to go & no time to go in. I am looking forward with great anxiety to the time, when I shall have / not only the privilege of visiting, but of staying with you without having to get permission of half dozen Superior officers. There is no special news in camp. the Regt is in better health than usual. Col Johnson is in usual health. Henry J left about ten days ago & I suppose tried to get home. I have not heard whether he succeeded or not & don’t know upon what authority he left, if upon any. don’t say any thing about this at present. Dr Crozier & all of your acquaintances in the Regt are in good health. Present my regards to all inquiring friends particularly to Mr Olivers Esq & Fords & Croziers & Mrs Watkins families My love to Mrs Oliver. Howdy love & kisses to Laura & Mamie Howdy to the Servts. You have my love without sending it I wish I could give you a kiss. How is your health now, good I hope. how are you faring for something to eat? Your devoted husband

                                                                                                                        W B Wall

 

[overwritten]

D^r Jackson declined being examined by the Army board & has gone home March 15^th Since writing on the 8^th orders have been changed & we are now at Vicksburg so you will not write to me at Grand Gulph This is certainly as hilly a place as ever was any where in the world. we can see the Yankee Gun boats & transports very plainly. The general impression here is that there will be no fight at this place, but another attack is expected about greenwood or Yazoo City. Henry Johnson has returned nothing been done with him yet. Thos Middleton has not gotten back. I have nothing of interest to write you my health is good. Asbry Perkins was taken sick last friday Thursday. I have not seen him since as the regt left where he was at that time There was a man left with him to take him to the hospital but the cars didn’t stop long enough for him to get on & I sent back for him the next day. he is now with his brother Lt Perkins I fear he is very sick from what I have heard from him. I should have gone & seen him yesterday if my horse had not been gone. he got away

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