17, 1862
Camp Rose Aug <th>
Dear Frant
I seat my self
in my Bunk this Sunday morning
to Scratch a few lines to you
we was sworn into the united
States Service yesterday but have
not got our bounty money yet
the pay master is paying off
some of the companys now he
<has?> payed of[f] Three companys this
morning and is still paying
off as fast as he can we dont
get but 25 dollars now and
I dont know when we will
get any more the Ladies
of this town and county made
a pick nick for the volunteers
[page 2]
of camp rose yesterday we
had a very good Dinner
and lots of it the ladies told
us to fill our pockets there was about <??> 8000 persons there
it all passed off in good order
there has been a few fights
in the camp since we came
here but they dont let them fight
much we are all like a band
of Brothers if you and Amy
and some of the rest of our
folks were here I would like
to live here South bend is the
prettyest town to live in that
I Ever seen in my life. there
is shade trees between the walk
and the street all over town
and fruit and shade trees
on Every lot peech trees hanging
full of peeches and pear trees
full pears and in fact
Everything to pleas the Eye and
tast
[page 3]
the captain has just told
me that we would not draw
our money before tuesday we
go in to the,, 87,^th Regiment
and it will be organized
against tuesday and then we
will get our money I will send
you the money I want you
to rite and let me know
what you are going to do
and whether Lew sold my
colts to murfy or not he said
that he would take them last
week if he took them at all
I have no advice to give you
only to take care of your health
and Amys when the ladies Comes in with their little ons it makes me think of my
little Amy. if I had new that there had been a dinner
[page 4]
at pleasant grove the day we
left you should of come with
me that far but I did not
know it untill we was nearly
there. I sent a letter to you
by John Baker and also a shawl
pin and my likness I will
have it taken again when
I get my uniform I want you
to rite to me as often as you
can and tell Every Body Else
to write that wants to I would
like to get a letter from any Body
that is a friend to me I want
to hear from you as often as I
can no more at this time
but Remain your affectionate
husband Whit
P.S. there was a man out of the
winemac company got his leg
Broke this morning wrestling
Direct to the
Care of Capt. Hammond
87 Reg. Ind. Vols.
South Bend
Ind