Memphis Tennisee Aug 12^th 62

 

            Dear and ever loved and respected Wife and children, i am well i was happy to receive your nice letter of the 3 and 4 i got it this happy morning i call it a happy one because it does me so much good to hear from home i am sorry to hear of Sibeys illness but hope she will be better next time you write i thank you for the stamps my ink and paper is poor so i will not write much this time. i am still cooking. it is verry hot wether but i think my health much than i expected. i will thank god for that and for all other blessings. well i will try the pencil it does better. those verses were nice i red them with care and thought [faded] i will just send them back for your [faded] perusal. i could select some from my papers but i have not time to day i must stop for dinner. (you speak of discharges) i think the thing almost impossible in this regiment a discharge we are in Gen Shermans division and Mc daniels Brigade and they both are [faded] hard officers to be under and so is our regimental commander yes and so is our camp commander Glenn has resined lieu Minton is capt now Grimes is ft lieu, and Rarick 2^nd but i hope i will get a furlo this fall but i do not like the ideah of going home and coming coming back well i will do the best i can and be at home as soon as i can i will send some money to you and some clothes in a box O how i wish i cold send of my self in a box /

 

you spoke of trade the team towards a house and lot do so if you can and i will disperce that [?] hole when i get there for i am everlastingly down on the stuff we have some drunk in our reg but thanks to the redeamer (heare is one that does not drink nor sware nor play cards nor do i ever expect to nether do i indulge in any other sins that tempts so many of the soldiers) that so dear Ruth pleas be as happy as you can and pray for me and for thy self and know it that i will be true to thee yes ever true, and wilt thou pleas do the same to me (i expect you will)

 

if you can trade to advantage do so and i will [faded] the whiskey and drinkers there of when i [faded] that little town caled Larue tell them to [faded] drunkards grave. yes and and ruined familyes and children. you spoke of phys being sick and [faded] well i did not get that letter, but i hope you will get this. Lol if going well i was going to say something but i did not, did i, maby I will write to JW some time he is a coward or he would have been in the army [faded] a coward but he is a good harted fellow [remainder faded]

SOURCES