Vermillionvill Louisiana Nov 6^th 1863

 

            Mrs M E Keller

                                    My deare wife we arived here yesterday eavning from Opelousas and late last night we received a Mail I received three or foure letters from you the last was dated Oct 17 writen by your Selfe, whitch informs me you are very Sick how miserable it makes me feel to know you are there Sufring and that I am not with you I am going to get Home as soon as I can it may be I will get ready to start some time this monthe that is I am going to resign my Commission the Law is sutch at present that evry officer must show that he is not Indepted to the Goverment for any Publick Property whitch he may have been accountable for while in the Service I have written on to Washington in regard to the matter and I must heare from there before I can get my Resignation Papers accepted I will tender my Resignation to the Commander of this Army Corps stating my reasons for doing so is on account of your Cripled condition and I have no doupt but what they will accept my resignation as soon as I can heare from Washington and get the Papers Showing I am not Indepted to the Goverment I know an officer who they let go Home from our Regiment whoes wife was in a similar condition that you are in I hate to leave the Boys but I think more of my Famly than all the Boys or any thing else in this worlde and you may look for me Home as soon as I can get away from here I cannot write as mutch as I would like to at this time as the mail is / about ready to go out last eavning was the first letter I have received from you since we left Berwick City I hope soon to heare from you again and to heare you are geting better would to God I could suffer your Paine for you but at all events I hope soon to be with you on the 3^rd inst we was in a fight our Regt came out all right as we wer not in the Hotest of the fight it was a Severe Battle John Sales is either killed or taken a prisoner we lost on our side 4 or 5 Hundred men killed and wounded and taken Prisoners we finaly whiped the Rebels and run them off our Regiment helped run them but as is usual it was a Sad sight to see the dead and wounded I must stop writing I will no write again in two or three days it appears as if we are on the Back track how long we will remain here I know not I have writen this as fast as a dog could run it may be you will have harde worke to reade it the Boys are all well

 

                                    yours truly

                                                Samuel J Keller

            NB

                        direct as before

SOURCES