Natches Mississipi April 13^th 1864

            Mrs M E Keller

 

                                                My deare wife here we are at Natches yesterday we Stoped nearly all day at Vicksburg Started from there last night about Darke and Landed here this Morning about Sunup this is a beautifull City it apears like the Midle of Summer  peaches are halfe grown the Rose Bushes are in full Bloom here with is a Specimen. Oh how delightfull it looks here if this cruel War was over I wish we wer living here the weather is delightfull Some time to day we Start on down the River for New Orleans wher we will arive Some time to morrow. Negroes are plenty down here yesterday Eavning I was off on Shore I hearde a little Negro Coming along a path he was trying to Spell I asked him if he went to School he said yes he was about Six years olde and Saide he had been going to School about one Monthe I asked him if he could Say his letters he Replied yes and commenced and Repeated the whole of the alphabet very easy and also repeated the Lords Prayer he said he liked his Teacher Miss Skinner he was as Black as Tar and as Inteligent a Boy as I have ever Seen for his age I cannot at present think of any thing to write about So you must excuse this short letter I have not as yet hearde one worde from / Home but expect to finde a mail for us at New Orleans I am well all except a little Home Sickness and I expect to have that untill I see you again, yours

                                                                                                            Samuel J Keller

 

                                                            Letter Number 8 Since I left Home

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