Ooltawah Tennisee

March 3d 1864

 

Dear wife tonight I am sitting alone in my shanty the rest of our Co are on picket so my mind naturaly turns to the Dear ones at home so I conclude to write some tonight I am well and pass my time verry plesant considering a solders life we rebuilt our shanty yesterday so it is quite comfortable I dont go on picket in fact I have verry little to do but attend roal call and draw the rations and a few small jobs sometimes our rations are a little short today I faired sumptuous I will tell what I had we drew some flour haveing no soda or anything to bake buiscuit in I mad what we call / flapjacks stir flour and water a little salt to a thin batter bake in a frying pan I have some good sirrup to put on them they are not bad there is so much nois I cant hardly write a few feet from my tent they are dancing and 2 violeans playing in some tents some are singing others playing cards the next Regiment there are fifes and drums others bugles blowing in one a brass band is playing so the hills and valeys resound with the sound

 

in my last I told of the movement of the Army but all is still again it was but to draw their attention from Sherman I think altho they had a sharp fight well I expected a mail tonight but none came we dont get it verry regular so I will close for tonight and go to bed my bed is pine poals covered with pine twigs it does verry well                  

 

March 4^th

I will now finish writeing this morning is warm and appearance of rain the wether has been rough cold wind and rain

 

well no mail came last night I expect one tonight and a letter from you but I will send this today to let you kno I sent some money if it is small every little helps I sent 17 Dollars by our Quartermaster Sergeant he has goan home to Crestline or Galion on furlow we all sent with him he is to express it to Martin Diel I expect it will be there before you get this you can call on Mr Diel and receit for it I sent Greenbacks they will be good to lay by as you say for a rainy day I kept but little as we expect to get pay again in 3 or 4 weeks then I wont get but little and cant send any but the balance of my time I wont nead so much / clothes if we could get allowed for our blankets and clothes we lost in battle and was ordered to leave behinde I would come out square however let it rip I can stand 30 Dollars yet write let me kno if you got the 5 Dollar bill I sent in a letter and the other 17 also I will close

 

            no more now but remain yours

                                                Charles. M

 

[upside down]

 

I am makeing a fancy ring I will send it if I get a chance by some one going to Bucyrus I am putting silver sets I have a fancy slip for a neck tie the shape of a shield with Glutapercha and silver sets in it I cant send them in a letter I may sell them yet

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