March 10 1864

 

Dear Cousins

I seat myself this butiful day to anseer your letter that came to hand some time ago I wish you could a seen us when we got it Al brought it home at midnight and we couldent wate til morning to read it we was so glad we got up and pretty near froze ourselve a reading it we begin to think you was mad you dident write for so long we nearly wore ourselvs out agoing to town we was glad to hear you was well I hope you still enjoy the same great blesing we are tolerable well what / is at home Al has gone to the army he volenteered a Crismas day he was sworn in about the middel of January he went of and we ded ent no any thing about it he has bin home and the on furlough and had the mumps he went to Lafayette last monday I dont expect he will get to come home soon again if ever. he belongs to the 127 rigament the boys are nearly all gone from here but the butternut and I dont call them boys they aint nothing but kind of thing good for nothing but to shoot at and I would like to give some of them a pop for it makes me mad to se one

old Ellac Harper has moeved to Illinois, aint you glad, I am

 

O girls I wish I could se you I hope this wicked war / will soon come to a close so the boys can come home and you can come out here to live for I want to se you all so bad give Lissy a big kiss for me and tel her I drempt she was here the other night and her hair was as curly as ever

 

Sarah you wanted to know if we had any big meetting this winter we had one that lasted better then a week they had a very good meetting thare was three joined Rachel and Lisy Cox and Mrs Pickeral. I did not get to go but twice I had the erysipelas on my face and arm I dident use my arm for two weeks thare has bin right smart of sickness here this winter old Mr Dotherty is dead old Mrs Hopper is dead Miles Moumanan is dead he / died in a well with the clamps

 

I beleive I have wrote all I can think of this time only I want you to write alittle sooner nex time or I will come down and tend to you            write soon every one of you

 

                                                                                    give my love to all

                                                                                    I hope to remain loving

                                                                        Cousins untel death so good by

                                                                                    to Sarah Julia and all

                                                                                                E. R. Booker

 

            I will send you some peaces like our dresses the red is like Mats and Orfas and the brown is like Mols and mine I think your dresses looks verry nice

 

                        down with the traitors

                        and up with the stars

                                                            Bet

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