Helena Arkansas December 24^th 1862

 

Dear Malvina

                                    yesterday I wrote you a few liens informing you that I was unwell but I ame hapy to inform you that I ame about well again and by to morrow I will able for duty again I was very sick last Sunday and had a violent Fever all day Dr Crosby attended to me and was very attentive I Received yours of the 12 inst, and was glad to heare you wer all well. you speake in regard to that Box it has come to hand all right. the weather is nice here at present and there has been a great maney soldiers went down the River in the last four days we think they are going to take Vicksburg whitch is several hundred mile Below us on the River in my last letter I informed you about us Burning Commerce fifty mile above here I had my Company and was along with the expedition it was a sorrowfull sight for me to behold sutch nice Property Burnt you never seen any better Furnitur than was destroyed on that night great quantitys of Beautifull Books even Family Bibles and nice Turky Carpets in fact everything pertaining to Furniture about wealthy persons Houses you may well imagin how the inmates felt to see all there property in flames when I get Home I will tell you all about how they acted on the occasion after destroying the place we proceed on to Memphis as the Boat we was on carried the Mail I did not get off the Boat at Memphis as I was very unwell I seen John Sales there he is in / the Army and looks stout and hearty I was glad to see him he asked me all about Bluffton can you tell me wher the Regiment is at that your Brothers are in is it in Minnesota or not. I Received a letter from Brother Will a few days ago they are well as it is Bed time I will close for to night

 

Christmas Morning

                                    I thought yesterday I would be able to drill to day but I find my selfe not quite so well as yesterday. Oh how very mutch I would like to be Home with you during the Holidays last year this time we was up in Kentucky at Bardstown and the grass Hoppers wer jumping around as it was beautifull warm weather I wish I could be with you at that Masonic Festivle but I live in hopes that this war will not last longer than Early spring but I may be disapointed I have been waiting to Receive a letter from you by this morning mail it has arived but no letter so I will close

your most Affectionate Husband

                                    S J Keller

 

To Mrs M E Keller

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