Forsyth Mo Feb 13^th 1863

 

Dear Parents

            I received by the last mail five letters that was day before yesterday. Two from Father one Dec 27 one Jan 2^d One from Mother & Bert of Dec 29^th And one from Charles of Dec 29^th. And one from Jake of the 30^th Dec. and a few lines from Alice which was in one of Fathers letters. Last knight the doctor Chapman sent up and wanted to see me down to his tent and I went down through the mud about knee deep. He had received a letter from Charles enquiring of my where abouts You nor him need not worry your self at all about me any more. If you do I will stop writing altogether. I suppose long e'er this you have received one from me /

 

I will tell you the reason why I did not write sooner. We left the spittle the twenty ninth of December and had lay around springfield for two days before the train was ready to start. there was quite a large train along with us. There was one hundred wagons in all loaded with supplies for the army. They have three span of mules to each wagon and drive them all with one line They travel from fifteen to twenty miles a day. I tell you what that it is anything but pleaseant a traveling with such a train especialy this time a year. We traveled this way for over two weeks and over when we caught the regiment they was to start the next day on a three days march so we were traveling steady for about three weeks And in that we had two heavy rain storms, and one heavy snow storm. the snow fell to the depth / of six or eight inches. We have been here in this camp four weeks next monday Forsyth is small town. it has had one or two stores a shoe shop and a court house but it was cleaned long before we ever saw it. It is situated on white river about four hundred and twenty five mile from its mouth. It seems that by the old law books that was found in the court house that this place has been the county seat of Taney county Mo. The next move we make I think that we will go down the river about one hundred and twenty mile to a place called Batesville We are building two boats here to carry supplies down the river. The roads are so bad that they cannot carry supplies down by land any further than here which is forty five mile south east of springfield. We got payed up to the first of november. We got one full months pay in Madison that is / was the advance months pay that payed me up to the 5^th of September. They payed us now the rest of sept. the allottment commences on the first of October. You will receive the $10 for the month of October. They say that we will be payed off regular now evry two months after this. You wanted to know how my clothes held out. They last very well. I have drawn 1 cap 1 Pr shoes and one knit jackett since I left Madison. I sold my first pair of shoes that I drawed in Madison. My old pants are pretty good yet I have had to patch them twice. I will make them last me a month or so longer. As for living now we have plenty of flour hard Bread Bacon Sow Belley Coffee Beans Fesh Beef we draw evry day or two. As for myself I get all can eat and more too such as it is at least I think that I do. I onley weigh 160 lbs now I guess that you need not trouble your self any more a bout my discharge I have got money enough to last me a little while now if we dont get out of this wooden country. Jo Arch Rice and Scott are fat and lazzy as ever. Father wanted to know how he would get from rolla to springfield. he can go by stage for ten dollars 125 mile /

 

If you had plenty of money and nothing else to do, it is a good trip to take to see the country and see the war and ruinations of war. And see what soldiering is with your own eyes. especially on a forced march, going one hundred and four mile in three days and fighting a battle the fourth day. that was when they fought the Battle of Prairie grove They say that Co^s B & G they seem to be the main stay of the regt. The report is that our regiment is reported unfit for duty This is all I have to say this time

 

Answer soon and often

 

I remain your affectionate Son

                                    S. Strong /

 

P. S. You must consider this an answer for all your late letters and dont worry yourself any more about me. I think that I pretty neigh big enough to take care of myself.

 

Give my love to enquiring friends

 

That is all this time

                                    S. Strong

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