Letterhead Headquarters Department Mississippi and East Louisiana Jackson, Miss., -----------------------------------1863 Camp Sherman Miss August 29th 1863 Dear Mother I now seat myself to write a few lines to you to let you know that I received your letter it was a month and more that I had not heard from you there has been a long time that I have not been able to write but I am most well I have had the Ague and the Direah and the Intermiting Fever and I got so poor that I could hardly walk I am gaining flesh now the 18th I came near going up I had a slight touch of the Congestive chills the Ague here is not like it is in Illinois it is a great deal wers here in this warm climate there is from five to ten soldiers buaried a day in hearing distance they die mostly of the Ague and Direah and Intermiting Fever it is not very healthy here we expected to get paid to day but we did not we provably will Monday George Hawk is waiting to get paid and then I guess Page 2 he will go home I guess, he can go if he wants to there is a fellow in La Salle by the name of John Melon that belongs to my Company it is time he was here he went home on a furlough, I shall not send home any money this pay day because I owe 13 now and that is half what I will get I borrowed that I believe if i had of not had it I would of not been here now I buy butter and such things as I kneed and every thing is so deer that it takes a good deal of money to buy a little butter is 50 cents a pound Chese 40 and onions three for a dime and I have cured my self with Onions other things sell in proportion to those things that I mentioned a Dollar buyes nothing as you might say when I am well I do not kneed such things as much but I tell you it is not pleasant to live on the same thing the year round we live pretty well now we have good soft Bread to eat now and fresh Beef and coffee and beans rice and such things but the boys get tired of that and they by Onions potatoes Butter and can fruit and I tell you it talkes money I have sent home more money than any other Deer Park boy Fred Smith gets 20 dollars a month Frank Bennett and Charles Patterson get 17 a month and they use the most of thares the boys Page 3 all get sick once in a while but it does not last long with them then boys all are a little sick Fred he has not been well for the last five days but I guess he will get over it: I have not done any duty since I have been with the Regt but I guess I will soon have to go at it if I get much better I am very weak yet and poor it is now pretty near bed time allmost roll call and I guess thare is not much more news to tell you this time I am in hopes to get a furlough before long if I cannot get one before cold weather I do not want one at all be cause my time will be out next summer I had as live be down here in the winter as up thare I think we will not have any more fighting to do I hear that Fort Sumpter is ours and that Bragg and Rosencrans are at it not I want you to send me the Ottawa Rebublican often we get the Chicago Tribune there is always some one page 4 that will have it we have to pay 15 cents for it and then it will be about a week old and we like fresh news when we can get it I guess you will think that paper is scarce but I have a lot of this and I thought you would just as live read it off this paper as guilt edged I got this at Generals Pembertons old head quarters I have a lot of it and I have given a lot away I want you to get your and Helens picture taken and send to me I want it in a case I have forgot or will forget how you look pretty soon if George Hawk goes home you can send it back by him and I would like a copple more shirts I have the two you sent me in Memphis I wear them all them all the time you kneed not send them without George goes home and then he can bring them back with him get them just like the other ones they wear first rate Fred sends his respects to Mr Williams I guess this letter will do for both of you tell the girls they must help mamy all they can and tell Hily he must be a good boy I w