Snyders Bluff Miss——June 30—63

 

Dear Ruth as this is your birth day i will write to you again informing you that i am not verry well all tho i am still able to see to cooking and do some of the work i took a bad cold about time we landed hear and cooking in the smoak gave me sore eyes but as the reg is out from camp i do not have much to do just have 8 or 10 to cook for and draw rations and see to the camp in general receive the mail for the company. O may these lines reach you in good health the best of earthly blessings. how ancious i dayly look over the mail as i get it for a letter for me but i have looked in vain now for about 5 weeks this is the fourth letter that i have written since i have received any. well i must wate patiently maby i will get one the next time i have no particular news to write the fireing of cannon at Vicksburg we still can hear all most all night i cincearly hope that you will [faded] to write to me yes [faded] to be away down hear in [faded] of all common privelages and [faded] a free mans life [faded] whether my [remainder faded] /

 

want you to reflect a moment and see if it is not a hard lot but thank god a christian soldier is allways prepaired for whatever may come yes that is i try to be prepaired try to live in the discharge of my duty as a soldier of my country and a soldier of christe. O may i have your prayers the prayers of of the righteous availeth much

 

dear children how i would like to see you and be with you yes and hear you sing some of those prety hymns that you ust to sing at eave when i come in from work O dear children be good yes and be kind to mother who has been so kind to you and prepair for that better land whare all our troubles will be ore. i would send some money in this for i know you must need it but maby i can get a furlo before long and i could fetch it and then i would need some for expences luther and Joseph Chapman is well they are campt about 12 milds from us they belong to the [faded] now Ruth pleas take time and write to me oftoner it is a great sorce of pleasure to me to hear ofton from you and the children [faded] Lol and John. well [faded] and send my [faded] coffee and some [faded] have got /

direct to Memphis as before

 

well dinner is over and i will write a few more lines let us be chearful and indeaver to be happy while strugling through this world of care and trouble yes spend our time in usefulness and live to god fleating years will soon pass by and we aut to injoy them as they ply and then upward fly to joys on hy O may god help us to live in his fear and prepare us for that land of delight whare our soles will be in eternal happyness O what a pleasent thought to live while endless ages roll. then let us try to prepare for heaven that we may be forever blesst O if i was at home but i will be there some day if my life is spaird i hope to return as a help and comfort how pleasently we can spend our declineing years together yes if true to our god. well supper is over and the sun has hid its selfe behind the western hills and i am siting out side my tent door trying to write but my eyes hurt so that i cant half see i must go to the doctor again in the morning. i wish i was with my dear family and had some slipery elm bark i could [faded] now Ruth pleas try [faded] your house and [faded] you are geting [remainder faded] /

 

July 1  63

                        Good morning dear how are you this morning i am well except my eys i can scarcly see to write. how i would like to be with you but there is a long way between us yes about 15 hundred milds well the 17 of this month our time will be 2 thirds gone and it will soon pass away but i will get a furlo as soon as there is any posible chance now Ruth dont be discouraged all will be well yet i think Phi has got a good birth 8 dollars a month and your wood is good pay. well thank god i have received a letter just now from you O how much good it does me to hear from you and i am so thankful that you are all well you must not look for me to get a furlo untill Vicksburg is taken and maby not then if our crusty colonel takes a notion that the men cant be spaired. well i wrote that i wished you to write oftener you say you have so much work to do well i must tell you Ruth you must not do so much work it will not [faded] from the care of children and [faded] and you must [remainder faded] 

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