Camp near Vicksburg Miss

Oct. 9 1864

 

            Dear Laura

                                    Yours of Sep't. 19^th came last night. It found me well or nearly so. And glad to hear from home as I always am. I am sorry to hear that Clara & Alfa are unwell but I think cool weather will have a tendency to make them feel better. I feel this morning a good deal like scolding a perfect hurricane. I want to know what benefit you have derived or expect to derive from such incessant working. The truth is just this you are afraid if you make use of a little money for your own comfort that I would take exception to it. Now let me tell you right here that this winter I want you to do nothing but what people bring right to the house and you need not trouble yourself to let them know that you will do their work even then for if you will work for me I think I can in the end afford to pay you as much as any outsider can. nevertheless if they will carry work to you and away again I will not raise so serious objections to your doing a little provi / ded you don't slight my work in order to do theirs. The idea is this you are too much alarmed about your bally[?] now if you will just cool down a little and watch the comers a little closer you will have more time to see the chances where there is money to be made Of this you may rest assured that as long as you borrow trouble as you have of late you can't see where there is money to be made.

 

            I want you to go to Rockford and go and consult an Oculist in regard to your eyes. get a pair of glasses and take care of yourself after this if you don't want to leave the children protectorless as one might say before I can get home.

 

            Now Laura I want to know if you are willing to obey in a few things if you are get a couple of cords of wood and pay some one to cut it and have the children carry it in and pile it up in your kitchen and then take care of yourself this winter. I have yet a little hope of getting home between this time and the 1^st of January/65 but in case I should not I want you to mind me for once and let some of the debts take care of themselves. If the Brigade is retained in the service I will warrant you we will live on till spring. I sent or started you 55 dollars on the / fourth of the present month; if that reaches you all right you can pay Asa his 35 and have enough to last you until some time in November when I will again send you 25 dollars out of which you can pay Uncle Garret 15 dollars and get him to hold easy until March when you can finish paying him up and still have a little to go on. Or there is another way if Asa is not in a hurry for his get him to wait until in March and pay Uncle Garret off and in that way you will have considerable more to work upon until I can send sufficient to keep everything moving provided I remain in the service. If anything in the world turns up to send up home I think matters can then be straightened very easily. There is something very strange in the wind in regard to the Marines. the Government certainly can never afford to keep a large Reg't lying idle as we have been for the last nearly three months. in fact we have not earned our salt since we returned from the "Red River Expedition," and it certainly seems as though something would be done with us and of this we are as / certain as they and put us in the field they never can, so we are perfectly cool on the matter. And again as long as we are retained in the service our board-clothing-and pay is sure. so I can't see any particular use in our raising a row in reality that is what they are after if they could only get us to flare up so that they could prefer charges against us and get us in the "Milatary Prison" then old Gen. Dana could do just as he would like with us and have every thing his own way. but "not cum arouse." The boys are perfectly cool letting every thing work as it will. I am sorry poor Tracy is likely to go by the board for I always thought he was honest and a well meaning man but I suppose the Lord knows best about him. As for Nuty as you are pleased to call him nothing surprises me that he does. and in fact I think sometimes he is not accountable for anything he does he was made by a scoundrel and marked after a scoundrel so how can you expect aught but rascality from him. but for all that I am glad others are finding out a little about him as well / as for me to know all. A good many were of the opinion I was the one altogether to blame in the dificulties between him and myself so if others can experience a little of his menness then my skirts will be in a manner cleared. Good Lord if I could only be suffered to get home in time to be a witness in the case between Fitzpatrick and him it is rather my opinion he would come a little nearer getting his just deserts than he will as things are at the present time. I care not if I get home in one year from the time they have their suit. I'll manage to put the thing to brewing again if possible.

 

            Laura if Old Camfield's wife can afford to live on 45 cent butter and rice steak can't you afford yourself a little something besides bread potatoes & salt? Now take my advice in this letter and try and have enough to eat for yourself and the children take enough to clothe yourselves comfortably and a little to buy provisions with and remember it will only be a short time until I can send you some more money after that I think you can get along a little easier and this you know Uncle Garret will never push you as long as he knows that I will send you all / the money possible as fast as I can draw it myself now do as I have advised and all will go off smoth write soon and tell me what things were in the big box besides those I sent to you as ever              "Dave"

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