Ridles Point Missouri April 6^th 1862

            Mrs M E Keller

 

                                                                                                            Dear wife this is the

fourth letter I have written to you and have received no answer as yet the last I received was dated the 22 of last monthe and at the same time also a few liens from Mr Studabaker I have been informed some time ago by letters writen to the Boys that the money I sent you had come duly to hande I sent you five dollars a few days ago in a letter by a man who was going to Fort Wayne he was to maile it at that place we expect to get some more pay in a few days when I shal sende you more money I hope you are all well and doing well as for my healthe it is very good. the Boys say they have never seen me as fleshy we have had very easy times for about two weeks but how longe it will continue so I cannot say at present our camp is a good one there has not been a day while we have been here but what there has been fighting either up or down the River from us in hearing of our camp Island No ten whitch is about six mile from us and is fortified and helde / by the Rebels our foreces and them have been Cannonading each other for two or three weeks frequently of nights I set out and watch the flash of the cannon our men use gun Boats it will be but a few days untill they are all cleaned out at the island we begin to think down this way that a few more fights and our side is victorius that the war will be over. we are very mutch afraide here that our maile will be stoped but hope sutch will not be the case. it has been done in some localitys the reason asigned for doing so is that our men write about our movements and the enemy gets the information I think it woulde be best you woulde not undertake to make garden untill May and then employ some good hande to make it for you and do it in good order and all at one time have good care taken of them fruit trees and grape viens I will write again in a few days to you if at any time hereafter you shoulde not receive letters from me regularly do not be uneasy for the mailes may stop at any time I ame yours most affectionately

 

                                                                                                Samuel J Keller

                                                                        Captain Company H 47 Regt Ind Vols

direct New Madrid Missouri as before

 

            April 7^th 1862

            Malvina I did not sende my letter off yesterday but will do so to day I received a letter yesterday eavning from my friend J M^cfadden he says you are all well and doing well it is very singular I cannot get a letter from you but I ame in hopes I will get one to day W Buckles got one yesterday also when you do write send a good Big letter I can reade your letters very well M^cfadden says there was more Brick than was required for the church and that Pappenberger hauled them up to the house you had better sell them to any person that wants them I ame very sorry to heare them Brick was not piled up properly I said to Mr M^cfadden that he shoulde do the best he coulde in regarde to the Brick and do what was right and I woulde be sadisfied my love to you all

                                                                                                            Sam J Keller

 

                        do write often

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