Helena Arkansas October 14^the 1862

 

Dear Malvina

                                    I will set down and write you a few liens I was disapointed in not receiving a letter from you by the last mail to day I send you two hundred dollars in care of John Mcfadden Fort Wayne as soon as it comes to hand pay for that land of Hathaways I presume you have received my letters that I have written to you in regard to the matter of buying the land if we get paid off at the proper time in three or foure weeks I can send you two hundred dollars more but pay day is rather uncertain these times as Uncle Sam has got a big job on hands paying off his Boys. five cent and three cent peices of paper are plenty among the Boys at this time I received almost an arm full in the way of change enclosed you will finde a specimen of the change as for silver there is none here

 

for the last few days the weather has been rather cool and reminds me of olde Indiana falls. Colonel Slack has ordered all the Boys that are out recruiting to return to there Regiments consequently George Sloan will return in a few days send my over Coat & pants pleas tell him to keepe them a long with him / espeicialy the Pants for I stand in want of them very mutch and the coat also the Handkerchiefs you need not send as I have plenty. as for socks send two pair I have two new pair at this time and could do with out any more this is a beautifull day Cool and nice and this is rather a nice city some handsom houses and beautifull Schrubry sutch as does not grow up north to the reare of the town is a range of hills on whitch is a grave yarde I frequently go up on this hill and look through the grave yarde some of those graves are very olde wer dug before I was Born I also go up on the hill to view the town and the River it is beautifull sight to beholde the steam Boats running up and down the River and at the same time see a great maney loading and onloading at the warfe and anchored out in the stream are four or five gun Boats with there monster cannon peeping through the port holes threatning vengeance to Rebels if they shoulde come in range of them. a gun Boat is a low squaty Boat covered with iron so as to prevent cannon Balls from doing the Boat any damage they are a clumsy Black looking thing but the Rebels hate them exceedingly but for all Malvina this woulde be a lonesome place for a decent woman and there is no telling how soon / we may have a little fight on hands but the Rebels can do nothing with us as we are geting too well fixed for them and have the gun Boats on our side and the Fort will soon be completed and is going to have some very large cannon placed on it. I hope to heare from you by the next mail and I hope to heare my deare little girl is well again and that you are all well my health is good.

 

so good by my dearest one for the present

 

                                                Samuel J Keller

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