Levee Cotton Press Jan 28^th 64

                                                New Orleans La

 

My Dear Mother

                        I now am about answering your kind letter which I received a few days ago. dated Jan 7^th and also glad to see you received mine of Dec 16^th my health remains good I never enjoyed better in my life. I am getting as fat as a pig my leg is getting better fast which I am glad to see and which I know you will be glad to hear of also, it does not trouble me at times as it used to. Our Regt has had there horses about two mos. but I never had one yet. all I have to do when the Dr does not excuse me from duty is answer to my name at roll calls, and drill with my Sabre about an hour and a half. so you see I have a pretty easy time of it now we are lying in barracks. My Lieut is going to Brigade Commisary and I am going to try and get a chance as clerk for him. he is also going to be Recruiting Officer to reenlist us for three years longer. they are offering large bounties and thirty days furlough in the state. and this that and the other but I guess I wont be sold as bad as I was before. when I look back and see how we were hum-bugged. money furlough or eny-thing else is no inducement.

 

Dear Mother, I have not forgotten your rule of econemy and when I am about to be extravagent the thoughts about you come into my mind and I do as I think you would want me to. those cans I could neither give away or sell as there was nobody who wanted them.

 

It seems you do not care about me writing to any of the girls in town, but if I am to know eny-thing about the affairs of the town I write to somebody who does know about it. if you will tell me somebody to write to I would like it. I received an interesting letter from Father which I have answered. I see the furnishing of the Parlor is favorable with him. he said he was going to see you about it. I know he has to work hard and it costs considerable to keep the family and going back and forth from Portsmouth. but I am willing to do my share of it also. and about getting you the new Stove. I am glad to see that New Hampshire is filling up her quota and So. Newmarket too. If the north is ever going to put down the rebellion now is the time. and I think it ought to raise that million of men it talks about to rescue our prisoners, and if Jone’s think anything about John Williams, they can show it by enlisting. but I suppose that they want to stay behind and cry like our Major when the balls were flying thick. “forward men” forward. if ever I saw a bigger coward than him I would like to know it. he was discharged because he could not lead the Regt. in action and a few others. A mail Steamer arrived today and expect a letter from you or Lizzie for it. As I thought I would get a letter so I did but not from you as I expected but from Miss Lane. It was very interesting. Recruiting is going on pretty brisk in our Regt. and I am clerk for the Lieut. there is considerable writing to be done for all. but it is just what I like. but I guess I will not enlist. Eleven have enlisted so far in my Co. J. O. Jones has enlisted. I expected to get a letter from you in regard to reenlisting but I am pretty sure you would not let me if you could help it. I think about three hundred will reenlist. There are going to be religious services held inside of the barracks this afternoon by the Chaplain on account of the review being so late there was no meeting so I did not have a chance to go. I am busy writing all the time for the Lieut I have no Co. duty to do and can lay abed as long as I want. I am going to see the head surgeon about my leg as soon as I can give my love to all the folks I am feeling tiptop the worst thing I am off for is money cant get any at all. I have not go a letter from you or Lizzie for three or four mails I must close there is so little news It take two or three weaks to write a letter.

 

                                                            from your Son

                                                                        Reuben

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