Bermuda Hundred Va July 8 1864

 

Dear Mother

I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know that I got my box yesterday mother I told you what my tent mate and myself was talking about just before my box came he was telling to me he said he had got most out of tobacco he said he must be get some to the others because he was afraid mine would not get hear quick enough It had ben on the road 11 days and I told him I gess my box would not come and I said I did not care if it did not come I had no more and got the / words out of my mouth who should come down but Morris Lyon come runing from the quartermasters said my box had come you better believe I was glad I never had a box come in play as this one It came in the best shape I ever had in since I have bin in the army It had a hundred dollars worth of that tobacco I [?] what the whole of it in one hour It was the best navy tobacco I have seen since I have ben in the army I will tell you how it was It was the fruit from molasses and items any tobacco I ever see you tell Mr Upham about it If you will send me 10 hands of the same kind / of navy tobacco for it is as good as that you sent be before I dont want any without it is as good as that Mr Upham knows which kind I mean I want you to send me ¼ gross of matches 2 dozen of good clay pipes and one good pair of suspenders you go to Mr Upham and have him put it oup just as soon as you can have him put the pipes oup so they wont breake send me a hundred as good cigars as you can get write me out a bill of the things in a letter not send in a box will you go to Mr Upham have him / pack it for you I should think you you might pack it the same morn of to day and send it tomorrow tell Mr Upham to let me [?] as he can put it out in a good strong box [?] it who put my name on to the [?] it was put on in good shape I tell you I never had a thing bust in that box now all I want now is my shirts and my hat and socks if you [?] let me know It will you I had a letter from George Forbes this morning he wrote me a very good letter [?] /

 

4 of July what did you put in the bottle with the huckleberrys you sent me they were very good they were some them pickles you sent me the was very hard and very sharp I would not eat them because they was two newspapers in with them I wish that I was prety [?] homesick I would have ben with you send me 4 pounds of good butter and 4 or 5 pounds of good figs and write me the price of each of them / who made that cheese you sent me It was a very good one did Mr Hamants folks

 

 make it wont you get the butter the [?] you sent me was [?] they made that was very good they ask 45 and 50 cents a pound for cheese out hear 60 cts a can for milk that Jack knife you sent me for $[?] they would isshu $12 It cut hear so you can see the difrence Sow milk is good [?] how / much is molasses a gallon how much is the [?] from a barrel how much is meal a bag Ask Albert how much is it a bag ask him how much oats are a bushel how they retail them a bushel how they retail meal a bag mother you ask Harriet if Leorenzo Doran wrote to her if they was man in our company by the name of Works was kiled If he did if not is any of his fingers got shot off that is all I want her to let me know about that you be sure and tell her [?] will you Mother I suppose you have sent my shirts / before this time If you hant sent them I want I want you to hurry them oup I hope you have made them of that best cloth If you hant I shall be sorry I hope you have [?] the others as I told you If you have sent them in any ones box I wish you would write me in your next tell me whether you have or not mother my health is good I am on picket to day It is very dry hear now we had a little shower hear yesterday not hardly inough to lay the dirt it was tip top mother I have got all the newspapers you have sent me lately I wish you would send me a few more postage stamps I send my love to all of you I want you to answer this letter as soon as you get it If hant got money to home to pay for them things I [?] take some of yours and I will pay you as soon as / [?]

 

[upside down margin, illegible] from your son Sylvester H Stevens /

 

Friday night

 

mother why dident you send me a bottle of Ketchup I wish you would send me a bottle of it mother how do you suppose I am going to write you with a pen when you dident send me a bottle of Ink I wish you would send me 2 bottles of Moores Ink will you and then I think I could yous the pen dont you think as a man cant yous a pen with out he has ink send my box as soon as you can be moved write me a good long letter will you send me a True Flag if you can get one or Sparkers weekly I have just got of picket

 

[margin]

 

mother that ham does taste tip top I tell you mother I [?] in a tent with [?]

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