Iuka Miss Oct 23..63

direct to Memphis

 

Dear wife and children

i write again, ancering 2 letters that i have rec since i have written. we have just stopte hear after haveing a long and hard march conciquently i am not verry well, but i am happy in the lord, and feel to thank his precious name that my dear family are still living and ware well when you last wrote (Oct 14) pleas dont be uneasy as to my health for it not dangerous (billious colic and a bad coughf all most lung fever) braut on by fatigue and exposure but if we can stay hear long enough to get rested i think i will be all well again, yes i hope so and pray for it 

 

i will discribe our rout of march left Camp Sherman Black river Sept 26, marched to Vixburg went on a larg boat was 6 days going to Memphis got a ground on a sand bar 24 hours was lited of by a ferry boat distance 400 milds, stopt in rear of Memphis 4 or 5 days then started on this tramp our bagedge being left at Memphis confound there selves of them we had not built bridges enough and garded the road enough, well we mite walk and other reg ride that had never seen it before. well we marched to Mt Pleasent thence to Lagrange thence to Pockhontis thence Corinth and from there to this place Iuka a nice pleasent town near tenn river 

 

well tis eavening and since i have eat supper concisting of coffee sowbelly hard taks and sweet potatoes that i boiled in a teakettle that was got on a scout since we stopt hear the reg went immediately after we arived hear with 2 days rations, poor i was was not able to stomp mud any farther so i fixed up our tent, but it was hard work to drive stakes for my bunk for my head and brest pained me verry much but i new it was not best for me to rest on the damp earth

 

            Oct 25. well i am some better this morning it was so cold and rainy friday and Saturday that i could not write much untill to day we war paid yesterday / so i will send some money to you, as i cant come my selfe i know dear Ruth that tis hard for you to look for me in vain, but i have done all in my power to come if capt Minton had not been wounded at Jackson all would rite him and me ware on good terms he will be back commanding his com in 4 or 5 weeks and then you better believe comp F will be drawed over the coals and straiened up. i may posibly get a furlo then, but there is an order prohibiting any more being granted. but thank god they cant keep me only untill July 17..64 but that seams a long time yet but the good shepard will take care of me i trust. you have my prayrs daily dear family be of good chear write ofton and all may be well yet J G S to family

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