On Boarde the Lady Pike Feb 18^th 1862

            Mrs M E Keller

 

                                                                                                            Deare Malvina and

Children probaly you think strange that I have not writen to you sooner but circumstances was sutch that I coulde not do so. five days ago we left camp Wickliffe and have been up travling through mud and snow untill last eavning when we got to the Ohio river and embarked aboarde of this Boate and to what pointe we are going to I cannot say for none of us knows except olde General Nelson and he keeps it to him selfe all I know is we are going down the Ohio river there is fifteen steamboats loaded with soldiers all going together it is quite a sight to night about midnight we will pass by the mouth of the Wabash river and will then soon loose sight of good olde Indiana we have had a harde time of it since we left Camp Wickliffe but I ame stout and hearty I ame as fleshey as you have ever seen me we have a good time on boarde this boate I have got a good bed to sleepe in and boarde in the Cabbin I presume you / have hearde that our soldiers have given the Rebels the devil and I think we will soon wipe them out then we can all go home and feele like men that had done there duty towards there country thank God I ame one of a stock of People who Loves there country more than money my olde grandfather fought and suffered the privations of a soldiers life and I ame proude of him my children in years to come can say my father was in that war and my deare wife will you not think more of me for turning out and fighting for our Country and leaving all behinde that I holde moste deare in this worlde me thinks I can heare you say yes with a teare in your eye rather than you shoulde have remained at home like a Coward and coaxing some others to go while you coulde stay at home and make money and be out of danger yes my deare wife if possible I think more of you for saying to me Samuel if you wish to go do so I will try and take care of the children them words are as fresh in my memory as if it was but yesterday and I thank God I have got / Woman for a wife not a thing like some of them Buffton Women who are no better than a bunch of rags. enough on that subject I have just been looking out at the window on what a nice sight to see this fleet of Boats covered with soldiers steaming down this Beautifull river all is life and amination it looks like war as quick as we stop I will write to you give my Compliments to sutch of my friends as make enquirys I cannot write very good as I ame writng on a knapsack I do not know when this Boate will stop so I can put this letter in the postoffice

 

yours most affectionately

                        Samuel J Keller

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