St Charles Arkansas Oct 16^th 1864

 

Dear Malvina

                        I take up my penn to write you a few liens this Sunday afternoon I feel very lonesom I have just finished a letter adressed to Harter this is a beautifull Indian Summer day I was down to the river since dinner and seen a man Baptised or immersed as some call it the Chaplain Sawyer preaches his farewell Sermon to night he leaves next Wednesday for his Home his time being out. I wish I could go also as I feel very anxious to get Home and see you and the little ons but I must wait paitaintly untill my time comes my commission is dated from October 10^th 1861 So I have been in the Service three years but I will have to stay untill the 12^th of next December at least that is the talke at this time whitch will be 7 or 8 weeks yet before I can leave in fact all of us that are going out will have probaly to stay that length of time being Three years from the time we was Mustered in to the United States Service no sign of any Paymaster as yet the last of this month will be Six Months since we have received any Pay but we cant helpe it we have to waite patiently untill we can get it I tell you we have to live Saving I have just got Four dollars left and that will not last long as evrything is So very high here but I will manage to get along some way Boats are running up the River Regular the last few days we have had two or three Mails but nothing from you I feel anxious to heare how the Election has went off but I feel confident Morton will be Elected by a large Majority probaly Twenty thousand the Treason Democracy have ruined the Democrat party in Indiana for the present time I mean they have done the loyal or war Democrats an Injury as a Party the way of the transgressor is harde /

 

Tuesday 18^th October 1864

I have not received any letter since Sunday and I have been thinking about not sending this untill I heare from you the weather is beautifull as we are having Indian Summer at this time but evry thing looks Green like Summer as yet there are a continual string of Boats runing up and down the River the last few days they are mostly Loaded with Provisions for the Soldiers at Little Rock in this State Eight Boats went up last night Loaded with Soldiers from Morganzas Bend I think they are going to Little Rock. this is begining to get a very lonesome place for me and time passes by very slow we have been talking to day about our prospect geting out of the Service some think we will start Home about the last of next month or the 1^st of December instead of the 12^th of December but at all events Ten or Twelve days will not Kill us if we have to stay untill the 12^th but I tell you I want to get Home as soon as possible. and I hope we will not leave here untill my time Expires as we are well situated at present but there is no telling how long we will stay here it may be the Regiment will Remain here untill next spring and we may be ordered away before to morrow Morning but the indications are at present we will remain here for some time the health of the men is good at present never was better but the Sitizens generaly look pale and sickly they are a odd looking set the Women all use Snuff and some of them chew Tobaco they are a tiard set in this vicinity I would not like to live in this locality I have not seen a school House while here or a Church either it is the Devils own Country and I want to get out of it as soon as possible for feare the olde Boy will soon begin to / Claim me as an Arkansas Sitizen. but I must say Arkansas would be a good country to live in if it was inhabited by the right kinde of People the Climate is good the land is rich and I think the State as healthy as Indiana I like the Climate mutch better but as I have often saide to you I never expect to leave wells County that is my Home while I remain here below I hope this war will soon be over and I think it will When General Grant gets Richmond the Rebs are gone up and he will do that thing certain I have seen as mutch of War as I want to see I never want to see any more. More especialy among our own People but our own People must learn to behave them Selves and obey the laws I never want to see this war Stop untill the Rebels are willing to lay down there arms and Return to there alegiance to the United States they are whiped and must do so I will close for this time hoping soon to heare from you

 

            yours most affectionately

                                                            Samuel J Keller

to Mrs Malvina E Keller

                        Bluffton

                                    Indiana

                                                            I beleive this is Letter No 52

 

            Tell the little ons I will soon be Home to stay I never wanted to see them so bad in my life as I do at this time I hope Ema is with you yet and as good girl as she used to be tell her I have not forgoten her I hope Samuel is a good Boy and will go to School evry day untill I return I mean of School days and when I get Home we will have a good Squirl Hunt I want to get Home in time to kill two or three Deer in December I will bet that would tickle old Bull an olde Sam J also its to good to think about so I will quit writing                                                                                Sam J Keller

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