Thunderbolt Battery June 15.th. 1863.
Mrs. Nancy J. Harden
Dear Companion! I again Seat my self to drop you
a few lines which will inform you that I am not as well
as common though I am up and on duty I stood
guard yesterday and last night, I am drowsey now.. I
have some cold & cough. my cough dont seem to get any
better.. if it dont get better soon I will stop doing
duty, and try to get to come home. if I wait now
until my regular time to come home it will be some
time in July. I can not tell exactly what time
I read the things that you sent me By Mr BJ.
Brooking and was to get it and to hear that
you was well but I am sorry to learn that Mollie
was sick if if She is not well.. when you get this
you must get some of the Neighbors to write me
a note cirtifying her condition and then I can get
a chance to come home if the Dr. is tending on
her get him to write sick note, and send to me
if you write it your self the Officers will not receive
it but if the Dr. or some of the citizens it or Signs
the Same, when I Show it to them they can not doubt
it. I have no War news to write you as you have
heard as much as I have even before this writing
one of our men died yesterday. Mr William Reaves,
who lived up on the River We have an other one in
the Hospital that will die in a day or 2 without a change
Mr. Shirly from Crofferd County is dangerously sick
too he is the one that married Jimmy Jones daughter
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he is a corporal and well thought of in his
Company. they say without a change he will die I will
here from him a gain this evening. Corp. Shirly
is no Better I will write all the Boys every time
I write one of Sergts is very sick also..
I will leave a space here to fill after I here from Corp
Shirly.. Mr Benson is sick he has been throwing
up this morning. I dont know what is the matter
with him.. Mr Spencer is also complaining
but he is on duty to day.. I wish you could
imagine how many fleas there is here I think there
is 40 in my socks now I am going have a Stir
among them now in a minuet if they dont
hop I will catch some of em.. the whole face of the earth
is full of them here fleas, & lice here are as common as
flies, and gnats in Pike.. the next call that is made
for troops at Savannah will be for us Gen Mercer
told Col Gordan, that he had favored him just
as long as he could so he might prepare to go if
they made another call.
We have just drawn Uniforms & Shoes and money
I am going to Sell my Shoes I drew 26. dollars
but I had to pay 20 of it for my watch.. and other things.
&c I must come to a close you must write soon
So good by Jane for this time W.H. Harden
June 16th I am still better today.. I will close
as the mail is going to start in a short time
I want you to try to write regular every week
farewell WHH