Camp Benton, Apr. 8^th 1863

 

                        My Dear Wife,

                                    In my last letter to you I promised to write to you again as soon as I assertained something about our business and destination. I acknowledge that I have not complyed with the promise to a t-y ty but I think my excuse (scarcely worth naming) quite as good as the one you had for your tardyness. We embarked on the Steamer Champion laden with army stores and "green-backs" and started down down the river at 2 o'clock P.M. Apr. 1^st and arrived at Memphis at 4 o'clock A.M. on the 4^th. As soon as I could get off the boat I went to the Adams Hospital, procured / a pass, went up to Room B, Ward 3, and as soon as [ink blot] I opend the door almost the first man I saw was Jim lying on a neat little cot reading a novel. He was so busily engaged that he did not see me till I went up close to him and spoke. It is not to be wondered at in the least that he was gladly surprised I stayed with him till he got a pass out of the Hospital; then we spent the balance of the day arround through the City, about as we pleased. He would have come up with us but he said he was expecting a discharge and thought he had better stay a day or two longer. He said however that he would be up here by the last of this / week, discharge or no discharge. We left the Champion and went aboard the Belle Memphis and left Memphis for St Louis at 6 o'clock and landed at the latter place at 10 o'clock yesterday and arrived here at 12 o'clock and about the first thing I did was to overhaul Co. K's letter box in which I found three letters for Enos Reed,—one from Harvey and two from you. One of yours was of too old a date to convey much news but nevertheless was very interesting not simply because it enclosed eight postage stamps but because it was conversant on a subject that has concerned me a great deal. Contrary to your request (strictly private) I gave the letter to Dave to read and I think it / had the proper influence upon him and I am going to have some leagle council upon the subject at the first opportunity and if any thing can be done here, I will loose no time in attending to it.

Your other letter was dated the 28^th ult. I was glad to hear that you was so near well. I rec'd a line from Mother enclosed in one of Frank's letters. She says that she thinks that Olive is not a healthy child. What do you think about it?

 

The last letter I wrote you I sent by Isaac Brown, the man that Meda boarded with when she taught school in Ireland. All of our Reg. that was here rec'd their pay while / we were down the River and the Pay Master has left S^t Louis so that there is no telling when we will get our skads.

 

I attended a Concert last night given by the Young Ladie's Union Aid Society It was very interesting to the loyal portion of the audiance but was a big bore to the secesh It is a well got up thing and was well performed. There was a female appropriately dressed to represent every state and territory in the union then there was the Goddess of Liberty, Columbia and Justice all dressed richly and appropriately. The darkey performance was good and the music the best I ever heard. The Union songs they sung was enough to make a soldier's blood almost boil. I will send you a programme of the performance and a pamphlet containing all the prose part of the acts but I wish it contained the songs too. Our Capt. was here when we came / back. He brought the package of socks through all right and we prize it a great deal just because it came from home. Tell Melissa that Cooney thinks the color of his socks is just right and wants you to tell her that the "red white and blue" is jus what he is fighting for.

 

            Hopeing to hear from you soon again

 

            I subscribe myself,

                                                Your loving husband

                                                                        Enos Reed.

 

P.S. The Adjutant has just brought over a blank Muster in Roll for me to fill out so that I will not have time to answer Harvey or Mother's letters till tomorrow.

                                                                                                                        E Reed

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