Yaxoo River                                      

direct your letters

the same as before

to Memphis till i inform

you diferent

 

 Snyders Bluff Miss            June the 10 1863

 

Dear and ever loved wife and children i am well and it is my cincear prayr that these lines may reach you in good health it is 2 oclock in the morning we are 12 milds from Vixburgh on the yaxoo River i can hear the canons sullen roar now while i am writeinge shelling the rebs inside of there strongly fortified Vixburgh our men keep up an all most constant fire day and night and keep them waked up and stired up to the sence of there danger we have them surounded and in a bad fix one so we will starve them out they have tride to cut there way out several times but have been driven back as ofton into there holes. (the yankeys are the boys to make them hunt there holes) but we have lost many a brave lad around that stubborn Vixburgh we think they cant hold not much longer for deserters from there army report that they are liveing on one third rations now. well god spead the [faded] for this place and [faded] so us poor soldiers [remainder faded] /

 

then we got another set while we ware scouting on the mules we turned the mules over to uncle Sam before we left Lagrange

 

June 21^st i have to write by intervils just as i can get time. i am well this Sunday morning O that i knew you, my dear family ware all well at this time what happyness it would be to me i have not herd from you for some time i received the last letter just after we got on the boat at Memphis i expressed 44 dollars to you before we left Lagrange. i drawed 26 dollars yesterday the furlows have played out for the present maby one reg will get some after Vixburgh is cleaned out well i will not send this money home for a just yet maby i may be blessed with the happy privileg of visiting love ones at home before long, all tho i know you will nead it and maby sufering for some thing that you could get with it. O my god spead the happy time that i shall see and be with you once more it greaves me to hear of hear of your trouble and grief yes and then to have other people helping you along. O my dear Ruth pleas try to keep up in good spirits [faded] maby god in his mercy [faded] things around for our [faded] long yes you know [faded] used to say [remainder faded] /

 

with my loved ones at home

yes dear Ruth if it is gods will a few more years on this green earth with my little family and then if faithful to the end my never dyeing soul will take its flite to that home of never dying love yes whare jesus is and he will wipe our tears all a way, yes to that eadon of love i am home ward bound. (O if i could only hear my dear Ruth and children sing that good hym) i must stop writeing my heart and eyes are to full to see at present. well i will try to write a few lines more we left Lagrange June the 5 was 2 days going to Memphis went aboard of a large steam boat and took a ride down old Miss River 4 hundred milds then up the yaxoo some 12 or 15 milds landed and went into camp whare we now are in the hillyest and rufest country i have ever seen there is gullyes hear not more than 2 rods acrost the top that look to be 2 hundred feet deep and alligators [faded] large enough to to to to [faded] soldiers of our brigade [faded] while in swiming ware [faded] did not rise again [faded] eaten up by those [faded] loss cat have [faded] of Osceola) [faded] helth [faded] he had joined / in your hours of trouble and in every time of nead yes tis from him all blessings flow, his loveing kindness O how great. may his grace be your support in each trying hour and may it be his will that we may spend happy days together yet ere we lay down this mortal dust and our souls take there everlasting flight to god who gave them

 

you said Phylander was working at a shingle machine at 8 dollars per month and your wood furnished and wished to know what i thought of it well i think he is doing land office business and is a hero and a prais worthy boy for helping his Mother and little sisters by his industry may his labor be rewarded on earth and in heaven that news concerning vixburgh that i wrote to you proved to be not all true they have been fighting there and in that vicinity ever since i wrote that letter and for a long time before and boom boom go the big bull dogs at the rebs nite and day ever since we have been hear well we have orders to moove tomorrow to the rear of the town [faded] Grants force and take [faded] the ball. write please [faded] and i must do the same [remainder faded]

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