Fort Kearney May 13^th 1864

 

                                                                                                            Dear Friend

I now take this oppertunity in answering your letter to let you know that i am enjoying the best of health at present and hoping this may finde you enjoying the same blessing. the weather has ben verry warm for some time past but to day it is raining verry hard and makes the weather more comfortable. i suppose you read in your papers of the heavy fighting that is now going on. thank God that we have got the best of them and there is no doubt but the rebels will be so badly whiped by fall if not befor that they will not be able to raise / an armey for next springs campaign. it is reported here that our losses up to this time exceeds 40,ooo men killed & wounded and that of the rebs nearly double that amount. Besides thousands of prisnors which are sent in daily. General Lee asked Gen Butler if he would grant him 24 hours to burry his dead Butler replide, i would be verry happy to grant you that faivor but i have no time at present to Burry my own. Bully for Grant for if he had given them that time Lee and his armey would have ben out of Grants reach. if McClellan had ben in Grants place no doubt but he would have granted his request / So you can see by that that Grant is not to be fooled i suppose you will see all the particulars in your papers. it is supposd that as soon as richmond is taken our regt will go and assist in keeping it. i think richmond will be ours by the 1^st of July if not before. now Edward i have nothing more of any thing that would interest you, so i hope you will excuse this short letter and poor wrighting and answer as often as you can make it convienient So now i will close by sending my best wishes to you and all enquiring friends.

From your friend

                        Guilbert Keenholts

7^th regt N Y.V. Arty. Co. D.

            Fort Kearney

                        Washington D. C

 

the rest of your friends are all well /

 

i am composed of 17 Letters

My       1=13=14=8=17 i do not believe in                             Ghosts

“          2=12=3=14=12 you enlisted for.                                union

“          3=12=9 is usd in writing.                                            ink

“          5=2=1= is an insect.                                                   Bug

“          4=6.1. is part of the body.                                           Leg

“          10=11=15= is a fish.                                                   eel

“          7=6=12=14= is a union general killed.                      Reno

“          8=13=7=10=11= is a number.                                    Three

“          11=15=3 is a mans name                                            Eli

“          12=3=4=10= is a river in africa.                                 Nile

“          13=14=6= is a farming utensil.                                  hoe

“          14=3=15 is a liquid.                                                    Oil

“          15=3=14=12 is an animal.                                          Lion

“          16=2=7=9=17= is a nation in europe                         Turkey

“          17=2=11= is a ladies nick name                                 Sue

“          9=3=12=1= they do not have in England now.          King

“          10=6=4= is a measure.                                               eel it should be ell

So i think that persons name is

            Guilbert Keenholts. it took me some time and you must let me know if i am right or not

SOURCES