Camp Sherman State of Mississippi

September the 6^th 1863

 

                                                                                                                        Dear wife

I take my pen this morning to write you afew lines to let you know that I am moderately well and I hope these lines may find you all well I havent much to write I get no letters from you or any boddy else from that country I havent heard from you since your letter of July the 22^nd Sherrill has got two letters since one from Jane & one from Sarah but not a word in either to me about my family I dont know what to think the other boys gets letters regular large mails comes but nothing for me if you have quit writing I recon I will have to write to some of your neighbors to know what is the matter but I believe some of you are sick and you wont let me know it I have wrote four or five letters to you since I have been here and got no answer & I sent you 20 dollars by Lieut Stephenson he will leave it at Crows for you to get I have been sick two weeks with the same disease I had last year the dumb Ague I got over heat a gain but I am now doing duty and I think I am on the rise some though I am not entirely clear of it yet I feel it in my bones the Sergeant sent off most of our sick boys yestarday though they were all on the mend health is getting some better now there has been two men died since we have been here Samuel Richards of our Co and / Weber of Co I our Company has had 40 men to die since we have been in service I must quit to go to chirch this is sunday and the drum is beating for us to come out  x  x  Preaching is over we had a good sermon we have a good old man for chaplain we also have a good Major he has put a stop to gambling in this regt he issued a special order to the gamblers and he said his word for it it should be stoped and I havent saw any since he dont want to cramp the priviliges of any of his men but he saw it was doing great harm and ought to be stoped I have but little news from Any place the troops here is doing good service gethering cotton for government we have got a good deal of the staple already gethered some bush whacking but not much I want to know if you are going to make any corn this year and if you have any prospect of having anything to eat next year and how much money you will need this winter to buy your necessaries &c and I want to know all your wants so I will know how to meet them if possible Sherrill is well and harty we have been paid a gain plenty money in camp I am anxiously lookin for important news but I dont know how long it will be till I get it I tell you I was on picket yestarday and I bought a quart of butter milk the first milk I have drank since I left Stlouis so I must close for this time so no more at present but ever remain yours so long as I live                                                               Josiah Bradford

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