Black Oak Pt. Iowa Oct 4^th 1863

 

My Dear Husband

                                                            This is a cold cloudy day. it snowed some this morning. We have every indication of an early and cold winter. We have a fire in the fireplace. Olly is sitting in the cradle before the fire every time I look at her she begins to jabber and laugh she is well once more and is getting as fat as a pig. I received a letter from you dated Sept 24. I received it on the 28^th. Every body tells me that there must be some mistake about the date for it could not come from New Orleans in four days. I think myself that it came pretty quick but I dont see how you could make a mistake in the / date. Mead was over at Paps yesterday I guess she is about as well as ever again. they have not named their little chap yet. Jim has commenced teaching school at the same place where he taught last winter Harv got the hat that Dave sent he went to town yesterday and got himself a pair of boots and stuff to make a pair of pants. If I can get rolls I am going to make me a flannel dress

 

                                                            I think that the soldiers will get to see some of the world. I would like if I could see as much but I dont think that I would like to see it in the same way. I think when you all get home that we will never want for a subject of conversation. I expect that you will have a great many things / to tell and we will have numberless questions to ask all of which I expect you will be able to answer and I expect that Olly will listen to many a war tale told both for amusement and instruction.

 

                                                            Next tuesday week is the day of election. I hope that every soldier will get his vote and that the copperheads will be defeated. They are all in for the soldiers voting now, but I expect that if they would get a majority at home and the soldiers votes would decide it against them they would then be down on soldiers voting and say that it was unconstitutional. There are a few copperheads say that they will leave the state if Stone is elected and I hope they will I think it would be for the good of the country they leave /

 

I still direct my letters to Cairo Ill I wish you would tell me if there is a better place to direct to. you wrote once about there being a U.S.P.O. established at Vicksburg but I never heard any thing more about it and kept on directing as I had been. It is getting dark and I will come to a close by saying good night and subscribing myself

 

                                                                                                your loving wife

                                                                                                                        L A Reed

 

P.S. Excuse this blotted paper it is all that I have

                                                                        L Reed

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