Near Harrison landing
August 10th Dear wife
It Seams we are
still here in the land of the living
and hope that my life with my friends
may be Spared to meet with them
on this world of Sorrow for I consi-
=der this nothing but a world of
Sorrow and disapointment for
there is now comforts of a worldly nature
God has So formend things that when
we look for the greatest enjoyments
we meet with the greatest disapointments
therefore for my part I look for no
great enjoyment in this unfriendly
world but enough of this for you
will think that my mind is quite
wandering but as for that you need
have no fears for I will not allow
my mind to run away with
my Self in that way for I am
bound to enjoy myself in some way
[Page 2]
let the world wag as it will this
giving up for trifals is poor pop alth=
=ough I must confess that I have had
enough Sickness to make anyone dis=
=couraged but Still I have held my own
up far as that is conserned as well as
any one would under the circum=
=stances I have been placed under
but that God with the exception of
a Slight cold my health is good my
appetite is good and I think I Shall
yet be as healthy as I was at Washington
if I Should I could enjoy myself
full better than I did last Summer
with the exception of enjoy your
company last Summer I Saw
no comfort for I was annoyed
by the constables So much but I think
if I was at home now I could enj=
=oy myself if this war was brought
to a close but I do not think I could
rest easy while my country needs
So many as She now needs I hope
[Page 3]
that the people will be punctual
in turning out to its call I presume
that many will feel like cralling
out but I hope that they will not Show
cowardice for it Seams that it is
the intention of the Secretary to
Send these new troops to guard
places of not much danger and
take the troops that is guarding
those places to fight for they are Dri=
=lled and ready while these new
troops are just as good to guard
Such places I would not mind being
one of the new Soldiers but the old
ones will See hard feed for they will
have to take the blunt and not
recieve [?] as much bounty as those
that now enlist but what do I care
for that for money was not what
brought me to the war and there=
=fore I do not worry time will make
all things right in time I will Say
no more about that our box has not arr=
=ived yet but hope that it will yet I wish
[Page 4]
you would make me a colered Shirt
of cotton and Send it the Same you
would a paper rolled up Cornelia
Sent him one a few days ago it cost
thirteen cents to Send it by mail here
you cannot get any kind of a cotton
Shirt less than two dollars or twenty
Shillings things are very costly here and I
am about out of money for John has spent
bout nine or ten dollars of my my money
he saving none of his own I do not thank
him for his kindness although I suppose
he thinks that it is all right or at least he
will pay me pay day but the disapoin=
=tment for I wish to use Some every little
while perhapse he may Sell the watch he
got and if such should be the case we would
have plenty till we recieved our pay
if you are a mind you may send
me two dollars the next time you
write for it will come Safe as a kitten
write often and I will do the Same give my
respect to Father & Mother White and also the
family in General and dont be forgetful of
Father & Mother Granger and the family
Generaly and keep your share as for my getting
my likeness taken it would be imposible for
there is not no place to take them around here
write as soon as you can I recieved a letter from you
yesterday