New Orleans Louisiana April 16^the 1864

Mrs Malvina E Keller

 

                                                My dear wife I again this eavning take my penn in hand for the purpose of adressing you a few more liens although it was but this morning since I mailed you a letter I never get tiard writing to you it apears so mutch like converseing with you the Drums are at this minuit beating for the Boys to go to Bed or what we call Tatoo. I have been very buisy to day writing and Drilling the Boys we had Dress Parade this Eavning. I tell you I am tiard of the Service or I might say anxious to get Home if I can see any chance to get out of the Service soon you had better beleive I will try to get out I would rather be at Home living with you if I had to live in the poorest Cabin in Wells County, but I have got the consolation of knowing my deare Malvina if I should loose my life while here in the Army that you would draw twenty dollars per month as a Pension while you remained a widow whitch I always hoped you would do for my Sake and that of my deare Children. Malvina, I write to you just what I think for I know you are my best friend on Earth and nearer to me than all the rest of the World put together or even my own life as I have saide above it does me good to write to you just what I think. know deare one put those letters away wher kn no one but your Selfe can reade them for they contain the Sentiments of my own Heart whitch no one but you Shal ever know or even have a right to know no never never you are the only Woman I ever / loved and the only one ever can gain a place in my affections you know my deare I am always Slow to Speak just what I think on this Subject I know I have done and said maney things to you I have been Sorry for and what makes me love you more if possible is you always forgive me so readily God bless you for a kinde and loving wife to me you always have been years ago you have done and Saide kind words to me that I have not forgoten up to this night. take good care of your Selfe my deare and write as often as you can well do so it is late and my candle is about burnt out so I will close for to night. Good by

                                                                                                            Samuel J Keller

 

            April 17^the 1864

                                                My deare I again this after noon will pass off a few minuits in writing to you to day is Sunday and for the first time since here I have been away from this Building I crossed the River for the purpose of Seeing Some of the Boys who did not Enlist and wer left here I was glad to see them they are ordered back to the Regiment to serve out there time and I am glad of it for they are good Boys there is a Town on the other side of the River called Algeirs evry thing looks green and nice over there the grass in the feilds is ankle high it looks nice to a person who has just come from the Northe to this place I took Dinner with a Lieutenant a friend of mine he had green Lettuce Radishes and onions for dinner Cabage and Turnips and all kinds of vegetables nearly are here there are Aples / here also but evrything is very Deare I have Bought none of those articles as yet I have to be Saving of my Money the Drums are beating for dress Parade I must go no more this time yours

                                                            S J Keller

 

                                                Dress Parade is over and I have had my Supper what do you Supose I had good enough it was Bread and a Slice of Boilt Ham an onion and a tin cup of Coffee and in the Morning I will have a change of diet Coffee Onions Boilt Ham and Breade my health is good thank God and I Hope it will continue so untill I can reach my Home again this day does not apear mutch like the Sabath day the Stoers are open and Selling goods and all manner of Buisness is being carried on this is a wicked City there are quite a number of Ocean Vessels here from almost evry clime it is a Beautifull Sight to see them but I have seen the like before. I would mutch Rather see my olde Hunting ground in Wells County than anything else down in this Country. Oh yes how has Sama got along Fishing I presume you have plenty of big Fish to Eate any how as large as your little finger tell Sam to leave a few in the River for to Breed poor little fellow he Suffered enough that Colde day to get them Fishing Poles. when we get out on the farm he can Fish in that Big Ponde for tad Poles and Frogs it is geting darke I will have to quit writing untill candle lighting time. yours

                                                                                                Sam Keller /

 

Monday Morning April 18^the 1864

                                                            My dear Wife this morning I will close my letter to you hoping you are well I have been on a Study during the night I beleive that in the course of a month I will try and Resign if possible more especialy if you are as yet Afflicted with the Rhumatism prety Bad you know we talked on the Subject before I left write to me amediately and let me know what you think about it but be sure and keep it to your Selfe when I heare from you again I will write more on the subject and tell you what course we will pursue you will have to assist me if you think proper to do so. if I undertake to Resign I will have to make it apeare as if you was severely afflicted what do you Say. no more at present I Remain yours Most affectionately as long as life lasts

                                                                                                            Samuel J Keller

 

                                                                                                Letter Number 12

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