Benton Barracks.

June 3=1863.

 

Dear Wife:—

                        I received your kind letter yesterday, and was very glad to hear that you are all well. By the goodness of God my health is pretty good at this time. Our meeting is still in progress, and doing a vast amount of good. We have meetings at 2 oclock in the afternoon and at night. The afternoon meetings are devoted to prayers, singing and giving experiences. Our evening services are mostly devoted to preaching: but sometimes we make prayer and conference meetings of them. At the close of preaching it is the custom to ask all those who / desire the prayers of the Church to stand up; and nearly every time this opportunity is offered, some 60 or 70 soldiers are seen to rise, saying by their actions "Pray for us." A great many are being converted from at this time also, and much good is the result of our efforts and our prayers. At home dont forget to pray for the soldier, for your prayers and sympathies are kneeded very much.

 

            The prospect of pay looks gloomy at this time. I think that the reason we do not get our pay is that the fight at Vicksburg is in progress, and they think they will soon exchange us, and dont wish to pay us till we are exchanged. I think how- / ever that I will get it by harvest. If I had had the money when I received your letter I should have come immediately, but as it is I cannot come now. Do not get discouraged, even if our prospects do look a little dark at this time.

 

"Behind a frowning Providence

God hides a smiling face."

 

So let us put our trust in Him, and he will not let us suffer. Tell the Boys to go into the Weat and take their knives and "head" all the smutty Wheat they can find. Tell little Sarah An that Pa will come home as soon as he can, and not to get very impatient, for Uncle Sam will let us all go home some day. Be sure and let me know when / Aunt Bambrook comes, and give her my love and best wishes. I would like very much to see her. I may get surprized very agreeably one of these days by getting my greenbacks hardly before I am aware of it. Tell the Boys do the best in their power, and Father will try to recompense them for their good conduct when he gets home. My pay will come all in a pile some day, so let us cheer up. I have now but five cents in my pocket, and this letter takes my last postage stamp and envelope. But I am by no means discouraged. Give my best respects to all the neighbors and friends and please write soon

 

                                                                                                Your aff. husband,

                                                                                                            Ed. Hickman.

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