On Board the Steamer 
Maria Denning 
Memphis Tenn Jany 20th 1863 
Dear Lucinda 
I Recd [crossed out] [Two] Two letters from you 
last night and was verry glad to 
hear from you I had not had 
a letter from you for over two 
weeks one of your letters was 
dated Dec, 31st and the Jany 11th 
they found me as well as usual 
Except that I am troubled Some 
with Rheumatism I was glad 
[crossed out] [that] to hear that you and the little 
one was well and I hope you may 
Remain So until I get home if I am 
permitted to be lucky Enough to do so 
I wrote you a letter four days ago 
and Sent my likeness and ten  
Dollars [crossed out] [I] in it we was paid two 
months wages about a week ago there is 
over four months yet behind  
we are now on board a Boat lying at 
the wharf Ready to Start down the 
River I think we are going down to the 
mouth of Arkansas River and then turn 
and go up white River for the present 
we have been [crossed out] [illegible] on the Boat two days 
and it may be a day or two longer before 
we Start . I hope we will soon get through 
for we are to mutch crowded that it makes 
it verry Disagreeable; what do you think 
when I tell you there is Three Reg,ts 
of Inf,ty one Battery of Artillery with all 
their horses and over fifty Mules and 
the wagons Belonging [crossed out] [illegible] to them beside 
all our provisions and other freight on 
Board of this Boat; there is not room 
for us all to ly down at once we are 
Stowed in like cattle in a car 
  Calvin Hagerman is here he come 
down from Cincinati a few days ago he was 
left Back there Sick he is going down with 
our fleet to Rejoin his company the  
[illegible] Battery is up white River in 
     Arkansas I may get to see Jabe 
 [Cal?] is getting quite Stout again 
       glad 
     he Seemed quite ^ to Run across Some 
   of the Old Badax Boys, It has been 
Raining considerable for two days past 
and the Snow has about all melted off 
 but the air is raw and cold and the 
river is Rising yet Ben; Greenman is 
Discharged, Ed, Crandall is well and 
Hearty Alvin Caulkins Rec,d a letter from 
Mary last night She said the folks was 
well She Said She had Just got a letter from you 
you need not Send any more paper only what 
there is writing on; for I can manage to get 
what Blank paper I want: I wrote on that 
Ledger Just for fun I had other paper 
you must Excuse this writing for I am 
laying on my Belly in a Bunk and it is so 
dark that I can hardly see the lines; it is a 
poor place to write but I thought I would 
Scratch you a few lines before I left here 
I heard that the 25th. Wis. had passed 
here and gone South but I have heard since 
that it is a mistake and that they 
      are in Madison yet 
I hope this cursed war will 
end for it Seems that the Soldiers 
are Suffering Hardships Exposure 
Sickness and death and but little  
good is accomplished by it 
And their Services but little appreciated 
And but little prospect in furture or 
gaining mutch credit for what they 
    have done; well I must close for 
this time you must not think I  
have the Blues for I never get them 
   I will Send you a Specimen of 
   Sesesh money I will write again 
   as soon as we get in camp 
Direct your letters as you did 
       last;      Good Bye 
 
Thos. J.Davis 
Lucie. H.Davis