December [1] 8th 1865 C.S.Str Columbia
Charlston South Carolina in care of Capt Evans
My dear I take the pleasure to rite you afew lines
to let you know that I receaved your letter
of the 10 of Decr yesterday and was very
glad in dead to get a leter from you for I have
not had one from you in three weeks last
wednesday I think and I answard it and I
have rote three or fore to you since and I
bin looking for one for a long time but I got
one from Wm sence that and G W oden he
got several and I have heard from you by
them My deare wife I am well as I ever was
except a cold and that is not bad ondley
that complaint in my head and that is
just about as it was when I left home the
docter has talked a bout pulling it out
but I have bin shifting from one boat to
a nother so they have not done it yet
but I am one the boat know that we be
long to and I recon we shal stay on this
boat as long as we stay at charleston
but some think we wont stay here much
longer for they say that Shearmon is
a coming to take it and they say they
will evacuate it like they did Surva
nna but we heare so maney lyes I dont
put any to it the lord knows
and I commit my self to his care he can [??]
[?] me and he is able to protect me and I [??]
[page 2]
beleave he will protect me and bless me
as he has done up to this time for I am
not a frade of his forsakeing me in this
time of troubles and if he does com
it may be the best for us the lord ondly
knowes what is best for us all george
is well & g W oden is well and thare is not
much complaint we are now a bout three
or fore miles from the town up to the dry
dock at this time and have bin heare 15
days and I cant tel how long we shal be
heare I suppose a week or two before they
get her done we do nothing but gard
but fore of our mareins runaway on
old christmas day and it makes our
gard duty harder now they went out
on land to get ther clos washed and
they have not returned yet the men
that works on the ship works to day
just as if it was monday
I dont like to see it we have drawd
a cap and two Shirts and two pare of
drawers and a coat and that is
all except soap & tobaco and a ham
mmoc we drew to day we fare
verry well for something to eat
thare is great rattling of tin cups
[page 3]
and pands a bout meal time each
one has a cup spoon & pan and we
eat all over the deck like negroes
and when we go to bed we spred
down all over the flore like a negro
and put our knapsacks under our
heads and goes to sleep I know
you would be glad to see me home
and no glader then I Should but
I cant tel you when but just as
Soon as I can get a furlow I will
come and I trust in god that he
will hasten the time it is the
general appinon of the people that
the ware will soon come to a close
they thing they will go back into
the union a gain but they dont
know but I pray to god day and knight
for peace so when I come home I can
Stay for I Should hate to leave
home worse now then ever if I was
thare I may get home in a few
weeks and I may knot I cant tel you
but I want you and all of my fren
ds to pray for me and I will do the
Same for you all for god has all
power in heaven and on earth
he works and none can hender
[page 4]
blesed be the name of the lord
whoe is able to restore us to our fam
iles again to enjoy our homes and
famileys again if you hant killed
the hogs before you get this my ad
vice is you had beter kill them
as soon as you can get them so
they will do for corn will be sc
arse another yeate and so I thin
it best to not feed two mutch to
the hogs and you must get help
to kill and cut them up and to
salt them for I cant do it this
year I dont expect I wish to
god I could be thare with you
all again I send you some stamps
in evry letter I rite to you I rote
apeace and put it in georges letr
that he sent I have not had a letter
from Langley but generals hokes
division has bin sent to wilming
ton about christmas and if he is
well anough he is down thare I
gess I must close by saying my
prayes to god is that the lord may
be with us all and protect us all
from all harm in this great trouble
and save us all at last in heaven at
last the prays of your cincer husband H H Bowen