May 19, 1863

Dear Wife and little ones;

I have written twice since I received a letter from home but I am not with the regiment and your letters are perhaps waiting for me to join the regiment. George is there and will take care of them till I get there. __________________
________be mighty glad and read them. George and the regiment are some 15 of 20 miles below Vicksburg on the Louisiana side of the river tonight I heard. They were expecting everyday to cross the river and join in a big fight at the back of Vicksburg and _________ stream called Black River. They were in the region but the Blains division was to take their place and they ________.

We expect to join them as soon as we can get them to haul our tents, and perhaps we shall pile ________ and things and leave them with a small ______

all the well ones go to the regiment. We are ___________ around doing nothing and giving nothing _______.

I am pretty well again but it has cost me some money. Our doctor’s aint worth a damn. __________ all the good things for the sick and the sick either get well on hand fare or die, unless they have money and buy what they need. I stole some milk from Seceoh cows and bot eggs for .40 cents a dozen which was the first things that helped me and then lemons for 10 cents apiece. My mouth and throat was so_______ted that I could not taste the sour of the lemon but they cleared it off. I got tea and toasted my bread and with the other things got along so as to be about well again and I guess I will not be set back unless I get a bad cold some way. The weather is very hot - hot as in harvest at home I

think and I think hotter every day - flies beat the fall at home - fleas, lice, and Oh God! What lots of mosquitoes. Dew berries are ripe and can be bought for forty cents a quart - awful prices - Peaches are as big as hens eggs and the tree breaking down with them, but we will get but few for how far_________ The box that Charles N. (Charles Norton Dennis) sent by Sunderland was bot. Tell C. N. that I want him to tell me all that was spent and I will pay him just the same as if I got it. They steal more than ¾ ‘s of the things sent to the soldiers. One fellow was sick and went on a steamboat and bought a can of preserved blackberries for $1.50 and took it to his tent and took off the paper that was around it and found his own name on the can. His folks had sent it to him and it was stolen and he happened to buy his own can. It would not happen so once in 20,000 times.

Has Charles written since he got back from St. Louis? I got a line from him, sent by Sutter Crammer, but have heard nothing since only Sunderland said he bot some stock, but not much at the sale. I hope you are all well and contented. Have you got a new schoolhouse? I think Jane and the boys best to go to No. 5 this summer if they can. Charles will get them a chance I guess

___________ has a school north of Caldwells. Have them ready that day if they are well, and keep them clean if __________and other things will make not much difference. Don’t let Jane miss school, but if you need help have a girl, so as to let her attend school.

You tell Janie to write often to George and tell him to answer her. He rather be fooling around or playing than writing, but it will learn them both. I expect you have more garden than you can tend well. Is it not so? How do the strawberries do? And the currents? Think of me when you eat some good ones and I will smell your breath when I come home. It is of no use to send to us unless some one is coming down.

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bushels go among 20,000 men 200 mon____for only 1 apiece. The cavalry will get _______ a few regiments of foot men that ________ in the advance. I have got a bank as ________ home if I could get stamps. I got them in Richland, Louisiana. One is Moores Poems and the other is a book of stories.

Did you get a book called Engine Within? I believe I sent it to Charley or Benj. Jane told me you got two books but you did not tell the names. I got the Ex of logwood and was glad for I was out of ink. How is the baby and Ira – and all_________________________

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Yours truly, J.A.