Camp 18^th Ala Rgt.

Near Wartrace, Tenn.

June 20^th 1863.

 

My Dear Wife.

              Yours of the 15^th inst was received yesterday evening, being only five days in the mail. I am so proud of my little wife now that she has written to me as often as three times in one week I am better contented than I have been since I was with you. There is two reasons for this. First I have been getting letters from my dear little wife frequently, and regularly for the last week. Many many thanks for this kindness. If it were possible for me to love you more, I think such kindesses would cause me to love you better, but as I love you better than I do myself or anything else on earth, I think it impossible for me to love you any more. Yet the better we know each other there may be a more congeniality of feeling between us. Secondly, I am in better health than I have been since we were married. I was really glad to learn that the Yankees had not taken Macon, and that it was not as likely to / fall into their hands as you thought when you wrote on the 11^th inst. Not knowing much of our position in Miss. I was quite uneasy about you. I would not have you to remain in Macon while it is in the hands of the enemy for worlds, if we should be should so unfortunate as to lose that section of our country. I hope you will not think of remaining in there or elsewhere that the Yankees may get under their control. Capt Hammond is very anxious to know where Hammond the spy is from and all about him that you may know. He would write to him if he knew where to write or what had become of him, but he is confident he is no relation of his, for he has no relatives who would do such things. Can't you tell us something more of Hammond! I did not say there were two Gen Morgans, I know of but one, and he is our distinguished cavalier, but as you said brother Tom was in the 13^th Ky Rgt, (am I mistaken in the Regt) and in Gen Morgan's Command I thought there must be some other Gen Morgan, as I thought it hardly probable that that regiment was in the cavalry / service. I don't think Morgan has anything but Cavalry and artillery in his command. Was the 2^nd Texas Rgt at Galveston when the Harriett Lane was captured? Was your brother with the 2^nd Texas at that time? Why did he quit his Rgt? Please excuse my inquisitiveness.

 

I am doing well in the eating line at present. We sent down the railroad day before yesterday morning and our boy came back yesterday evening with thirty five dollars worth of butter, eggs, vegetables of different kinds and one very fine ham. I forgot to mention a fine chicken he has tied at the corner of our kitchen. I think he designs giving us a chicken frie tomorrow as it is Sunday. Our kitchen is an old tent fly stretched over our mess chest, which serves us both as a table and sideboard. You must recollect we soldiers cook and eat in our kitchens. My mess is rather in the stingy order. I told them if they were willing to eat nothing but bacon and bread when we could get other things which would be of advantage to our health, for the sake of a few shinplasters, I was not willing to / do it; that they might do as they pleased but as for myself I was going to live better than I have been doing as long as I could find anything for sale. In this way I managed to get them to send out after what we have just received. We had another alarm in camp last night. Our regiment formed at about 12 Oclock. We were in line some two hours and then allowed to return to our tents. I was sure the enemy was on us, the first thing I thought of when I found that the chances were that we would have to move on the enemy at once, was of my dear little wife. I remarked to one of my friends that if I was killed I would never see my little wife any more or get to eat anything that our boy had just brought in after two days foraging; but I had the consolation of knowing that I had just had a letter from my Nannie

One of my friends told me he did not think he would stand a heavy fire from the enemy as well if he was a married man as he could now that he has no wife to care for. I / told him I thought I would stand a heavy fire better now than I would before I was married. I have more to fight for now than I had then. I have always thought I had rather get killed than disgrace myself by running away while in an engagement. Now I had rather suffer a thousand deaths than have it said that Miss Nannie Byson married a young Capt who was cowardly enough to leave his command when he found that his life was endangered. I know you would feel better to know that I fell at my post than you would to know I left it disgracefully. I am not anxious to be tryed, but hope I will not be found wanting when the test comes.

 

I think the news that Gen Cleburne's Division had gone to Vicksburg is a mistake. One brigade left this morning it is said for Allisonia as a Yankee raid is expected there. I think they are bound for Vicksburg and this report that they are going to Allisonia is all for effect. This brigade's moving / last night was the cause of the alarm all through our Division (Gen Stewart's of Gen Hardee's Corpse.) The health of my Company is not as good as it was when we left Mobile, or at any time since we left Corinth, but mine seems to be improving every day. Tis this water that is making all the men sick. One third of my company is on the sick list.

 

I am perfectly delighted with the idea of your going over to Pa's this summer. I wish I may be so I can surprise you by going home while you are there. One months furlough would be rather short but I would give anything if I could get that much time to spend with my sweet little Nannie. You asked me when I could come home. If was left with me to do as I please I would leave Wartrace for Macon on the first train. I know it is my duty to be here and share the same hardships and privations of life with my countrymen, and I try to be as contented as I can, feeling that I will be amply / rewarded when the war is over and I can go home to remain with my dear wife, knowing that I have done my duty, or at least tryed to do it. I know how pleasant it would be to go home and be with you and think and speak of it more when I am thinking of you (I assure you that is most all the while) or writing to you, yet I can't say that I am homesick as some would call it, but feel contented as long as I can get letters from you and know that you well and happy. When you write to Cousin Mary tell her to get me enough good flannel to make four shirts and four prs of drawers if there is any in Mobile suitable for winter use and when she visits you, she can let you have it, and when you go to Pa's this summer Ma will have them made for me. If the flannel can be had at any price I will take it and pay for it as soon as I know what it cost. I hate to trouble them so much, but I will want such clothing in the winter / and situated as I am I will have to depend on my friends to assist me in getting such things, as they are not to be had in this section of country. I wish it was so I could furnish you with as many kisses as you would have every day for dessert, as long as you would be content with them. I hardly think six kisses a day would satisfy you as well as the dessert you now have. My love to all. Tell Mother not to forget that you are married and be ready to think I have no claims on you when the war is over and I go home after you. If John concludes to go to Tuscaloosa tell him to go to Pa's and make himself at home as much as he can. If they are as strict with the Cadets as they were when I left Tuscaloosa, he will hardly be able to go anywhere. He can rest assured that he will live very hard if he decides to go to Tuscaloosa. I guess all school boys and soldiers will live hard as long as the war lasts.

 

With much love and many kisses I am your affect

Jim.

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