No. 20.

Baton Rouge, La., July 1^st, -64

 

            My Dear Wife,

                                    Two weeks have now passed since I rec'd my last letter from you. This seems the more strange because Mary wrote in a letter that I rec'd ten days ago, that she had just returned home from a visit to you and that you was writing to me that day. We were paid off day before yesterday.

 

            I rec'd $76. so two months pay as Sergt. in the Co. and two months pay as Commissary Serg't. I paid Dave Crowley $40. of it, and wrote a long letter to Aunt Polly Evans enclosing $5. The balance I have an object in keeping which I will whisper to you low enough for Mother not to hear it at least. The reason I do not want her to know it is because it is of a nature to cause her a great deal of disa / ppointment if it should happen to be unfounded. A Col. that was captured in the late disaster up Red River was exchanged and passed into our lines with several other officers a few days ago, reported in this place that all the Morganza prisoners were now on a boat coming down Red River to be exchanged, and if David should be amongst them I want to have a little money to share with him.

 

            I just now heard one of the boys say that a mail had come for our Reg. and I will let my pen rest till I ascertain whether I am one of the lucky soldiers this time or not.—Oh. good! I am lucky beyond my most sanguine expectations. I rec'd numbers 23 & 24—both on the same sheet—and the best of all your miniature too. The picture is well taken and I am certain you look better than I ever saw you. In fact if I could see you, I would be compelled to tell you that you was / handsome and as it is I can scarcely keep from writing it.

 

            I would like to see Olie crawling under the safe and reaching under the floor after a kitten; I know she would look so cute. Green backs have depretiated so fearfully within the last three weeks that I am afraid Harvey has made a mistake in delaying to invest in a piece of land or some other property. I noticed in the Democrat this morning that gold in New York was worth from $2.25 to $2.30 ie, it now takes $2.25 in green backs to buy $1.00 in gold, or in other words green backs is worth something less than $.50 on the $1.00.

 

            These are facts that are by no means very encouraging, and if we do not soon get victory the crisis in money matters is inevitable. Lt. Chaney tells me that Billy Willson, down on Cedar wants to sell his place.

 

            Tell Harvey to find out his / figures, and if they are reasonable and his land good, pitch into him. Remember that a debt can be paid with green backs whether they are worth any thing or not. Chaney says that Billy did ask $1000. for his farm and he also said that it was excellent land and all fenced and in cultivation excepting the timber but he did not know how much there was of it (the farm). I am glad you have at last heard from me again since we got out of Red River.

 

            We are under marching orders and will move as soon as transportation can be furnished us. Our Army Corps—the 13^th—is broken up and all the troop composing it is to be assigned to other Corps. It is said that our Reg. is to be assigned to the 3^d Brigade, 3^d Division, 19^th Army Corps.

 

            I will enclose my warrant of appointment to Commissary Sergt. also the order relieving me from duty in the Co.

 

            This reminds me of something I have to say to you but as this sheet is about filled I will reserve it for my next letter.

 

            The neighborhood boys are all well except Cooney and he has the ague again. Dave Crowley rec'd a letter to-day that gives the news Jenny W Strong's death. This is an awful shock to his father!          

                                    Your affectionate husband,

                                                                                                            Enos Reed.

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