May 8^the 1863

 

Big Black River Missisipi

Dear Malvina

                        I set down to write you a few hasty liens I come up with the Regiment yesterday eavning and found the Boys all well they had a fight a few days ago as you will see in the Papers our men whiped the Rebels very severely none of our Company wer hurt twenty six men wer killed and wounded in our Regiment the Rebels wer laying in piles dead we have got a splendid army with us and I beleive it will not be long untill we are in Vicksburg we are at this time close to the Rail Road Bridge that / crosses Big Black River from Vicksburg to Jackson my opinion is that General Grant is going to destroy it as soon as possible so as to cut off the enemys suplys as mutch as possible I had a hard time in geting up to the Regiment I was four days in geting up to the Regiment from the time I got off the Boat at Millikens Bend I got my Trunk on the Mail Coach and kept up with it walking for nearly two days I skined my feet up very mutch but I was determined to get up to the Boys as quick as I could I have passed through some of the most beautifull Country I have ever seen in all my life / how I wish you could see some of those beautifull Magnolia trees this is next to paradise I have seen plenty of corne waist high and wheat that will be Ripe in 10 days Peaches nearly full grown I hope you are all well as for my selfe I feel first rate although I nearly starved coming through but we have plenty of corn Bread here poor Marshal Clark is dead he died at Millikens Bend with the Typhoid fever Oh how I feel for his Father and Mother if you see olde uncle Adam Miller tell him his Boy is hearty & well & tell Mr Whitmore the same about his Boy / good gracious here is four sheets of paper I thought I only had two. excuse me for I have not time to write any more I ame writing on a knapsack placed in on my knees and is a very poor place to write olde Billy is well tell his Brother John the two Karns are Back at the Bend in the convalesent Hospital Crosby is back there in charge of it tell Miss Aspinall her Boy is well John Moor is well West Kennegy is well here is a little spanish Moss that grows on the limbs of the trees here there frequently a wagon load on one tree it may be this letter will ever Reach you / do not be uneasy if you do not get a letter again from me for a long time as the chance for geting a letter up the River from here is very poor. I hope my little Sam is a good Boy and will obey his Mother and my two dear little girls how often I think of them and my old girl more than any of them no more at present yours for ever

                                                                                                Sam J Keller

 

Mrs M E Keller

 

[upside down verso]

Malvina if any misfortune should hapen me while here do not sell that land or Town property keep it as long as you live so that the Children can get it when they grow up and I know you will do so. I write this for life is uncertain more especialy down this way. yours

            SJK

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