On Board Steamer Moderator

Talahatchie Missisipi March 27^th/63

 

Dear Malvina

                        I again embrace this oportunity to inform you of my wherabouts we are at this time Camped close to the Rebel Fort that I mentioned in my former letters to day the Boys have pitched ther Tents on shore Close to our Boat I shall pitch mine to morrow we are all heartily tiard of staying on a Boat we have been on Board over one month the health of the men is prety good one of my men James Cotton is very sick and has been sent back to Helena James Gordon is very poorly with the Diarrhoea I have got a slight touch of the / same complaint but I think I will soon get over it again as you are aware I ame very perticular about my diet when I am unwell. I Received a letter from you dated the 8 of this month and I answered it a few days ago and put five dolloars in it. know a word about going Home I am coming as soon as I can do so I must try and stay untill we get Paide again it is no use for me to go Home without more money than I have got as you must have money and I want to buy me some clothes and settle up our depts at Home Goverment ows me for five months lacking five days I think we will be paide in a few weeks again if / as I have saide before I want to be Home about Garden making time but as soon as I get paid again I am coming. I hope you are all well and doing well little did I think when I left Home that it would be this long before I would see you again. I have had a great deal of troubale and some hard times since I left Hom and I know you have experienced the same but I hope there is a better time a coming. there is a large force of our army collecting at this place gun Boats and transports as far as I can see up and down the River and more are coming in a few days from above / I fear you do not get my letters regular but do not be uneasy for I am going to take care of my selfe it appears as if we was almost out of the world down here among the Cane breaks and swamps of Missisipi but as the song goes I hope we will soon get out of the Wilderness again

 

Yours most Truly

                        S J Keller

Mrs M E Keller

 

                        N B plant that

                        Cotton seed

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