Franklin La. March 10^th 1864

 

Dear Mother

                        I Received your kind letter to day which gave me much pleashure to here from you I also Rec^d one from Aunt Isebella & Cousin Jennie. I ame glad to here that your heath is better then it hes ben. My Health still continues good thank God. you spoke about the Small Pox being around thare I sopose that is not a very Pleasant sickness I was vaxnated for the Small Pox about two weeks ago and it worked very well &c. there was 70 men came from Elmira the other day for our Regiment and amung the number I found one that I was some aquanted with his name is Chaffy / his Famly lives in your NeighborHood he says he ust to go by your house quite often to Church there is 150 more on there way for this Regt. and I expect to see some that I ame aquanted with there is quite a force of our Troops colecting at this place we expect to leave here before many days we are preparing for a march we have sent our Nap Sacks and what Cloase we do not want on a march to Brashier we will probely go up to Read River and maby we will go to Texas it is very pleasant weather here and I hope we will get thrue marching before the hot weather comes on I cane not write you much news Report says that Banks is going to take comand in person there was a Regiment came from / washington the other day it is the 153 N.Y.Vol and sevreal other Regiments.

 

Richard you wanted me to write you all the news I cane not think of much news to write at presant all the Soldiers are Reanlisting down her that have Inlisted for thre years and have served ove two of there time thay Inlist for three years they get about $800. Bounty and Furlow to go home they would have to stay in the service till naxt fall anaway so you see thay onley have to serve a little over two years anaway but I think if God spairs my life antill my three years is up I will let some one elce take the Bounty if this war is not ended. we had a very hevy Rain day before yestardy we / have not had any Rane to amount to any thing in two months till day before yestardy Richard I ame sory to here that your health is so poor but maby it will be better in the summer &c.

 

Mother you wanted to know my comrades name I Tent with segearent David Lockwood he is from Binghamton Broom Co I have sent home for Sam to send me 2 Cotton Check Shirts and a pair of Boots I do not like to ware woolen Shirts in the sumer I sopose he will Box them up and send by Express I ame well hoping this will find you the same I send my kind love to you and Richard and all inquring Friends I Remain as ever your afectonate Son                William

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