Harrison landing or near
August 2th , 1862
Dear wife long weary days
has passed Since I recieved any letter from
you while John recieves two a week the
last letter I recieved from you there was
one dollar in money making two dollars
that I have recieved from you Since I came
to this hole or in other words den for I feel
as though it was a den to me from the Sim=
=ple reason that a man has not his liberties
to go through this unfriendly world
without permision Oh; that I could say
I was free again. I Should feel to rejoice
from the Simple reason that at the present
time I feel as though I was fighting for
red tape instead of the Government there
is more red tape in this Army than I like
to see in any army if in God is our trust
let us rely on him and not trust to man
this thinking that man is above his maker
[Page 2]
is more than I believe in although I do
not wish to Say ought against any
one for I think McClelan done the best
he could after he was out flanked on the
right there was but one course to pursue
and that course was well followed out or
at least I Should think under the present
circumstances it was although perhapse I
am no judge I though war has been
carried on in a great measure to much for
gain than for the good of the Government
but enough of this John and myself Sent
eigty dollars by express a good many days
ago but have not herd from it or herd from
you since that time yes I got a letter the next
day after I sent the money but then I did
not expect to hear from it so soon as that
but Should think it was time I recieved
an answer by this time and Shall look for
a letter every day till I receive Some news
contra from that place for I must believe
you are in the land of the living till I
hear otherwise I am willing to admit
[Page 3]
for my part that I am getting very
heedless and carless about answering or in
other words about writing I am sure you
are So I think you and I had better reform and
write oftener in the future for my part I know
that I could have found more time to write
than I have done but I was to blame Lazy
or in other words to heedless to do it but
think hereafter that I shall turn over a new
leaf f he to better write oftener and be a f
better boy in the future for there is need of it
do the best we can and that is poor enough I
guess you will think this is a mixed up mater
and dry reading for I am in a great
hury for I have this letter to finish and one
to Miles yet to night and get Supper for
the boys I must cut my preambles Short and
try and do the best I can with it but enough
You may think Strange that I did not
Send home more. drawing fifty two
I owed Some and had Some owing to me So
I come out about Square all around but not
So with John he was out some twelve dollars
[Page 3]
leaving him only bout forty dollars left
that he sent home keeping ten dollars of
my money wholy unbeknown to me and Sending
his away I had no pocket book to keep the
money in and thinking he would not be so
foolish as to spend it for every trifling
matter but I find that I was mistaken for every
little thing was enough to induce him to
by and here you have to pay the weight in
Silver almost for every thing you get it is
dis couraging to See how he has Spent his money
or mine just as you would have it nine
dollars is gone So he Says and where the Lord
only knows he paid two dollars for four
pound of butter and that half salt and
Strong as a pig he has traded revolvers or
his revolver for a watch giving Some
three or four dollars to boot. So it has gone
from one thing to an other but if my health is
good I will do well enough provided I get your
likeness and Clara’s which you can Send if
you think best we have not recieved that box of things
Norman sent write soon and often excuse all mista=
=kes this from your Husband and best friend L A. Granger