Feb 28^th 1863

On Board Steamer Moderator

 

Dear Malvina

                        It is with pleasure I set down to write you a few liens five days ago we left Helena and at this time we are not more than twenty mile from there we are going down what is called the Yazoo Pass it emtys in to a River called Colde Water we are at this time within five mile of Colde Water wher we are going I do not know but I think we are going down in to the Yazoo River probaly to Yazoo Citty the stream we are in at present is very narrow and crooked we have not been going more than five mile a day. Just imagin you see steam Boats Running up Halls Creek when it is high for that is about the kinde of Boating we are doing at present. we left all our Bagage back in Helena and all the men that wer not well we expect to Return again before long I droped a letter in the office the morning I left Helena for you I informed you in that letter that I had applied to the war Department for leave of absence for thirty days I expect to get leave about the first of April Colonel Slack has helped me all he could and I have no doupt but what my Request will be granted any how I am determined to go Home. I want to get Home in Garden Making. I wrote to Jake Feilds to get him to Rent that land to some good man it is time it was Rented he will consult with you in Regard to it /

it appears to me as if I could scarsly wait untill my time comes to go Home I want to see you and the little ons so very mutch poor little Ella and Caty they would not know me if they would see me poor little dears I imagin I can see them shying away from me but I have no doupt they will soon get acquainted with me again I hope I will get paide again before going Home if not I will be hard up for money before geting paid again if you can get Mr Angle to trim our grape viens or some other person that knows how to do it properly they ought to be trimed before the sap gets to Running I seen Dan Connet the day we left Helena I Requested him to Call and see you and inform you I was well he promised me to do so I will close as the Boat is bumping so again trees and stups I cannot write there is about twenty Boats in all eight of them are gun Boats part of them are Iron Clad. direct your letters as before and they will follow up yours most

affectionately

                                    Sam J Keller

 

to Mrs M E Keller

            NB I will write as often

            as I can at least when ever

            I can get to send a letter up

            the River

 

                        tell John Buckles his

                        Brother William is along & is well

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