May 16th Potomac creek
Camp Sickles Near
Dear Wife
This makes the fourth letter
I have written Since I came over
the river but enough of this for
I must write and not brag for
I have been negligent enough
about writing before to make
it all up for any writing So
often at the present I never
will cut the caper again that
I did this time or when we m=
=arch before for some eight day
before we marched that I did
not write because I did not reci=
=eve any letter from you I had
been writing two letters a week
before that I find sunday morn
had come and I have not fin=
=ished my letter yet I guess I
will try and finish it I am
[Page 2]
cooking some fresh Beef
for the boys so I take my wr=
=ting utensils with so I can finish
this letter the wether is very
warm here at the present so
much so that it would be un
comfortable to cook in the tent
therefore I have gone to the
Spring to do my work I would
like to be at home to Spend
the Sabbath but such is not the
case to day so I must content my=
=self for the present but I hope
that I may soon spend more than
one Sabbath at home for I think
I have staid away long enough
for once I saw Philander the other
day he is wounded in the Arm
but I guess not very serious so but
that he soon will get along Wes
I guess run right into the rebels
lines and was taken Prisioner
for I have not herd from him
[Page 3]
most of the rest have turned
up some were wounded if he
had been wounded we should
found it out for all our woun=
=ded are inside our lines well
provided for I guess he is a pris=
=ioner and gone to Richmond I
do not worry about for the last I
See him he was making tracts
tracks to the rear he thought but
it was towards the Rebel lines
for we were sorounded by the rebs
on every side come very near
being captured by them our whole
Brigade we got out by the skin of
our teeth but enough I guess I
have written most enough for once
for my coocking bothers me and
I have to ju[m]p and see to it I will try
and write a long one next time
if there is any more coocking
to be done some must do it
besides me I am well as I can
[Page 4]
can wish excepting the piles
they trouble me a very little
I have not reported myself for
duty yet but think I shall on
the morrow give my love to all
my friends and keep as much
as you please yourself
This from your Husband
and best friend
L. A. Granger

NB I sent forty eight dollars
by Express the other day and
I hope you have got it before
this